IndioGirl55

SDGirl - Please slow down before you sabotage yourself with your unrealistic expectations. Your Mom is right - you didn't get overweight over night - it was a process and the band is a process. I was a skeptic too in the beginning - I never thought I would get to 170 but I did get there (that was my original goal) so then I moved my goal to 160 (again didn't think I would get there) now -9 under goal - 99 lbs gone in 11 months. The band works as long as you do the work - even without proper restriction you need to make healthy food choices and exercise - if you do these thing - the weight will come off. I know today's generations wants everything now - immediately but take a page from us oldies - you will be rewarded in time from your hard work - but the work has to be done to get what you want. Good Luck on your journey... I wish you the best.

Hey there neighbor :tt1: I have always kept my calories between 800-1200. Also it will depend on how much restriction you have right now - I was most likely on the low end of the calorie budget in the beginning and once I got to mushies it increased - I eat avocados - they have good fat Here are some food receipes - and you can go to the forum page and look for the food thread there are more there too..

Candice - Hugs to you !!!! Thanks !!! I guess that my determination and wanting doctors to help their patients can be overbearing for some and I truly don't ever mean to offend - but I think that you all know that plus you are use to me .... Hugs and thanks for the support - I have been re-reading my post as it upsets me that I offended Ssankofa when that wasn't my intent - and I still don't see where I was offensive in any manner. - I didn't think she was getting the support from her doc's that she needs in this journey (so I was supporting her) - but I guess I just read something else into to it that wasn't there or maybe she did - it's done over and today is a new day - Good food choices - exercise and water drinking :tt1: Linda Jackie says no she wasn't coming - but maybe - so hopefully she will surprise us and show up. I would never sell my clothes I would happily give them to you - I have a couple tens (white capris & white jeans and some black docker capris) the rest are 12's - I will be sure to pack some of them - that way I will have room in my luggage for the new stuff I buy.. I forgot - we are going to get a dress for your son's wedding - how fun.. Steph & I will be hitting the QVC store - cuz we are QVC girls - If Densie was coming she would be right there with us cuz she's into QVC TOO :tt1:

Thanks Ruby:tongue: - I wasn't trying to be mean and am truly sorry that Ssonfoka felt I was attacking her or her doc's when I wasn't - It's just that I am on this board alot and it seems to me that there are so many who don't have good info - Without the proper info pple are not going to succeed at this. They do need to be counseled on what to eat how to eat etc by there docs and support staff. I guess that cuz I am on here so much that I haven't forgotten all that they taught me originally.. Since I am always talking to the newbies - It's what keep me accountable. I want everyone to be successful in this journey..

Denise you are more computer literate than me - I don't know what browsers I have - aol ??? Its sorta of a joke on our lucky#7 thread that me & salsa are the food cops - just like my tough band love approach (love being the operative word) I just feel so great that I want everyone one else to feel as good as I do.. and I am no diff than anyone else here and I want everyone to be successful.. Thanks for the kind words though - It's greatly appreciated... Lynn- You are no diff than me - it's wasn't so much getting it off (well a little bit cuz I have never made it to goal before) it's more about keeping it off for the rest of my life - I was talking to my trainer about this monday - he said quit worrying about 5 yrs from now - if you just practice this every day - each of those days will add up to 5 yrs and you are going to be ok. I am still today afraid that I will lose the motivation that I have lost so many times - but in my own defense - I do know that this is now a lifetime lifestyle change - so I am just like the little train that could - i just keep plugging away :biggrin2: Good Lucky on reaching Onelander - it a great place to be - for so many of us it has been yrs since we were in the 100's... Keep up the good work:thumbup:

Ssankofa - I am sorry that you felt I was bashing you or your medical team I wasn't - The way your post read that you were unaware that you were eating the wrong way that you didn't know that you were to eat your protein first then veggies and carbs if any room - That's what I was talking about = you are 11 months out and it sounded like you never had this information - and in re reading my post I don't see where I was really bashing your team - it just seems to me that so many pple here get diff instructions when they should all be the same.. You didn't state that you had not been following the rules you made it sound like you didn't know the rules- I am sorry if you felt I was playing you or your doc's I wasn't

BeckyO Yep the cops are patroling tonite Just keeping it real That's all 1st rule - you get to get on the scale every day for the 1st week then after that (which is tomorrow for you) Wed is your weigh in day and that's how you will track your weight loss - if you do get on it during the week (and you will I still do) but the only day that count's is your weigh in day (for me it's Thursday - I weighted myself the day I came home from surgery and each week i log the weight I am on thurs mornings.. On friday morning i could be up 2 lbs but it doesn't count - only your weigh in day counts - I can get on the scale 3 times a day and each time it will be diff and if you keep doing that it's going to drive you crazy... My suggestion is starting tomorrow weigh only once a week. 6.4 lbs gone is great - have you taken your measurement before surgery if not do it now and then in 3 months take them again - You are doing good on your food and yes it's too early to exercise - you gotta get clearance from your doctor.. Your band is working - you are full on a small amount - enjoy it you are still healing Keep up the good work

You may not be getting enough calories I vary my calories one day 800 next 1000 then maybe 900 and 1200 so on and so forth - What are you all eating?? What is your daily calorie budget..

OK the food cop hasn't come out in a long time - and she is coming out tonite - But I can't be to coppish since your guys's doctors don't tell you crappola... I can't beleive this - this is what i am going to talk about at my meeting this weekend - too many doc's just out for the $$$ and not really giving their paitients the correct instructions. Am I the only one who got a big binder with all stages of eating - example of menue - even had frickin homework on planning a menu and counting calories and protein grams. Yes from day on - hard protein 1st - then veggies - the carbs if room - this is how I eat I eat my fish or meat 1st then my veggie and rice last. I was told to try and get your protien in early in the day that way at night you can have veggies & carbs if you want (I do still carbs but limit them) Candice - I don't know if I would say you were good:wink2: - chicken wings are like 94 calories if they are roasted without any sauces and high in fat - egg roll depending on size could be 100 for small and 350 for what I consider normal size and again fried - better choices - shrimp and snow peas - broc beef And my doc never did say anything about spicy food but again I have been eating it all my life and I have never had problems with heart burn. I am suppose to follow post op diet each stage for one week after a fill (I have posted this info before) and yes if you have a pb episodie you are suppose to go back on liquid - and slowly reintroduce food. I never have but I know you are suppose to - after a pb session - I don't eat and it ususally happens at night for me so it's about 10 12 hrs before I eat again and then breakfast is alway soft foods.. I bet you were scared - I have only woke up once like that but it was from eating too much pudding - I am diff that most - my band seems to tighten at night - which is ok with me cuz that's my worst time ... Good girl :lol: Karri - ya I remember you were usually too tight - they never did seem to get it just right for you. Look you are unfilled and still get stuck..

Ya you know me The Lap Band Cop Lap Band Shrink

Well Jb have th stuff I pop off at the mouth with is what I learned in WW "Better in thee (the trash than in me"" - The whole Lifetime Lifestyle change and not a diet - So you are pretty well prepared with the knowledge you need to work your band to make you a healthier person... You need to be giving us little pointers You can lead the over 50 WW class - Phyl can be the weighter - for our weekly weigh in

Lynn the reason we gain the weight back isn't any programs failure but our failure to continue to follow the program - we go back to eating normal (which is what got us fat in the 1st place) That's why I say diets don''t work (well really WW says that:lol:) - In WW I learn that this was a lifetime lifestyle change in my eating - oh ya right what's that - so slowly but surely I quit logging my food - skip a day of exercise - have a piece of cake or and extra serving of something for dinner and slowly but surely all the pounds came back on plus some - it's wasn't that WW failed me or didn't work - it was that I quit doing the work - I didn't make it a lifetime lifestyle change - I totally get it now 20 something yrs later - major surgery and a foregin object in my body Call me a slow learner:wink2: The band is no diff that the above example - even banded you can gain all your weight back and some if you quit doing the work The band is the tool that helps me follow a lifetime lifestyle change in my eating habits. Please don't think that just cuz you are banded the weight can't come back on - cuz it can and will if you go back to your old habit and quit exercising

Hi Denise I think core is like the old exchange plan - that's how I learned WW exchanges and I still use that so much dairy so much starch protein etc. I never forget to eat - Dinner has always been my main meal - I would say I am at my sweet spot - but I still get hungry..

Candice Has it been bugging you since the fill last week or just cuz you woke up last night How much did they take out..

Welcom Donna You being in the UK and me being in the States and I am 9 yrs older - I had tons of preop test cuz I never when to the doctor - heart -lungs - colon- mamo - pap - shrink - xrays - sleep Can't say I have had any downs - for me having major surgery was the ah ha moment in need - it's not longer a game (losing & gaining) I made up my mind and it's been history since then.. For me my band is the tool i needed to feel full on smaller portions - the surgery made me change the way I ate (i hate high fat - sugar - starches prior to band and absolutly no exercise) Now I eat heatlhy - and exercise 4 days a week Good luck on your journey

Phyl Glad you are getting some good weather :w00t: It's 100 right now per my KESQ ticker on my task bar - this weekend it's suppose to be 115 :eek: Karri You should be find for the morning run - Just make sure you stay hydrated.. Denise - Where in the hell did you get that Idea :lol::sad: was it anything in said :tt2: Gosh I really wish you were coming to the MofA trip - you would have us cracking up 24/7 - I mean pee in your pants, head & side ache kind of laughing :tt2: Yep out of the mouths of babes - they can be so special.. Ruby Glad the hair issue is improving - I agree with the crystal lite being too sweet - I don't put the whole package in my water - but I only use the stuff occaissional - I don't mind water. Yep at it a Botch that no matter what size you are you can't find your size - here when we were 14's all we could find was 10's then you get to 10 all you can find are 14's ..

Hi Alice - Congrats on the 10 lbs - That's great :sad_smile: I had my 2nd fill in Oct and when I went back in Dec my doc wouldn't give me a fill either cuz I had lost 17 lbs. I think that this is wise imho - I think there are pple who abuse their band by keeping them so tight that they can't much of anything - This is forced bulimic which I don't think is healthy - we got our bands to become healthier pple not skinny pple (well that's why I was banded cuz I wanted to extend my life and the side effect of that has been to become a thinner person which I love to- but the reason for banding was healthy not looks) I know that there is no way I could eat a sandwich made of thick bread - I have had grilled sandwiches made on lite sandwich bread - but a hamburger roll no way - I know I could not eat it even if I haven't tired it. I think we can become physiologically addicted to fills and I was worried about that in the beginning - but then I was too tight for a week and that was enough for me. You are doing excellent - keep up the great work - good food choices, exercise and positive talk - you are the road to a successful band experience. Hugs Janet

Long - a real bp is sorta throwing up with a little more force than a burp - I would do what you did pre banding - but yes it was a sign that you over ate and where full - can you beleive we say you over ate on only 1/2 c tatoes:lol::sad_smile:

Jill You should be able to feel your port - it's where your big cut is (2 nches) Mine is left center 4 inches below my boob but above my waist - I can feel it - its a hard plastic knot. and yes port site hurts the most after surgery As to the restless legs - no not normal - Talk to your doctor about it - you just may have developed restless legs syndrome and it's just a coincident

What's up - Like Phyl says do you need a fill - what are you eating and are you exercising. What's going on with you - We are here for you - we are your support group - What can we do to help you get over this bump in the road...

Heather I am sorry for your struggles But 50 lbs in 6 months is not a bad weight lost that 8.33 a month - that's average for the band - I have averaged 9 lbs a month so you aren't doing as bad as you think Now quit beating yourself up over your past failures - we can't change the past we have no control over it - the only thing that we have control over is today - so for today make the commitment to yourself to eat healthy and exercise.. God is not disappointed in you he loves you - he has made it possible for you to have the band which is only a tool to help you - God IMHO doesn't just make it easy for us - he gives us little stuff to help us along the way, but he wants us to do the work. Proceed with Caution - Tough Band Love Message You state "this shouldn't be so hard" What make you say that !!! That's the the fat chick talk - why is life so unfair why do i have to work so hard this is too hard to do - Well that's why you were banded to have the tool to help with your portion control - now what you put in your mouth is up to you. Quit feeling sorry for yourself - skinny pple don't eat the way we do - what we think is normal isn't - it's why we are fat - we have to relearn what a real portion size is and how many calories it takes to fuel our bodies. We must exercise our bodies were built for it. Today love you and do what is good for you - eating healthy (not dieting but eating healthy) and exercising - Measure your food - log your calories somewhere drink your Water. You have the tool to help you do these things. You can do it - you really can - pull up those bootstrap and keep moving forward.

Cathy Congrats on the Exercise- That's great :smile: If I have said it once I have said it a million time - Our brains is where our problems lie - Yes your fill will help with the portion control but it's not going to stop your from wanting to eat like in the past - I am 11 months out and at times I want to return to my old eating habits - it takes self control - will power and disleplen not to. I could sit down and eat a baked potatoe loaded with butter & sour cream - or a bowl of ice cream or buy a bag of candy and my band would allow it even with me being at my sweet spot. I agree with the blinders - for me it's avoidance - If I see food I want it - so I just don't put the temptation in my face I avoid it like the plague I am a food addict - if you put a piece of choc cake in front of me - I will have to throw it away - cuz if I look at it too long I will want to eat it. How many calories are you eating on a daily basis?? Mom22 - Welcome !!! I weighed 250 too - and say I am 5'4 but really more like 5'3 1/2 . I didnt have to do any pre-op 6 month diet (thankfully) but yes it is a training ground for what lies ahead. Please talk to your doc and find out what exercise you can do with the migraine & fibromalgia issues cuz for me that has been a big part of my success.

Empty nest - is just another rite of passage - another learning experience.. We never stop learning or growing (well in our case shrinking:lol:) My trainer is back WHOOPEE - he was gone last week and I really miss him - he putting together a progarm on motivational speaking (he would be great - he is a tough love kinda person like me) and he is going to use me or my brain in his program - well I should say I will be advising him on how fat chick's think and may even be in his program - I LOVE Idrise (that his name) I am a little scared - cuz it will be like talking to a shrink - exposuing your true self and it's ok to do it to other women - but to a man it's a little diff and I know that I will cry when we talk about emontional eating and I will be ashamed but he could help so many other women in getting their shit together. As I say ALL the time most of our battles are with head issues not physical ones.. Well, we will see where it goes - we are just throwing around ideas right now.. But it is really nice to have a man give you his point of view on how us women think that men are thinking about us.. I was telling him that some guy was smiling at me last week and I asked my partner if she knew the guy - cuz I didn't - I told Idrise I didn't know how to act - He said guys find it attractive to see a women working out. Well, as I have said a million times before I love my trainer - but you all will excuse me for repeating myself I'm in that certain age bracket where that happens:lol:

Long - it's just like reality tv which is all edited to make you watch - pple sensationalize everything now a days. I think the commercial that runs now is a real lady - cuz it shows a before and after - but when it says it takes away your hunger - well - yes it helps but it doesn't take it away 100% and again it's more about our head hunger than our physical hunger.. Serenity I will be here till Friday Morning - I am proud of you for the exercise - way to go:thumbup: As to cleaning the cupboards - if you can't throw it away - then bag it up and take it to your local homeless shelter. Yep the whole clean plate club - starving children in china - I was taught the same thing - that being wasteful was sinful - but so is being obese - gluttony is a sin too - doing anything in excess is a sin. But our whole head game doesn't let us remember those facts we don't look at fat as being a sin... But we are abusing the body that God gave us - we are committing a slow legal suicide.. When you clean out the cupboards (whether you throw it away or give it away) say this "Better in Thee than in ME" You will find it empowering - yep it's hard to give up your best Friend food - but it's not really your Friend - cuz a real Friend wouldn't be killing you... Try it - even if it's just one thing - give it a try and see how you feel. But make sure that you can't dig it out later in a moment of weakness - open it up dump it in and put other trash over it so that you can go back to it later..

Thanks Barb !!!! I am just a big mouth I love my band and the control that I now have over my life - I could go on t.v. and tell the world how great a tool the band is for those of us who have had weight issues most of our lives (i would love to go on Oprah and tell he she needs it and to quit saying WLS is the easy way out - it's not this is work) I wouldn't be like the commercial - I would tell the truth (imho the commercial make it seem like it's the magic cure) I would stress the tool issue - stress the mental work that needs to be done - stress that is a combination of many things to become successful - it's not just the band. You will find that every doc here is totally diff - I only had 6 day pre-op and then 10 days full liquids after surgery -then 10 days of mushies - 10 days of soft and finally regular food. Yes I was banded to extend the years I have left - I want to see my grandkids get married (Oldest is 17 - then 13 - then 4) and maybe even see some great grandkids. I wanted to improve the quality of my life and 99 lbs gone has improved it immensely - Will keep you in my prayers for a safe surgery and speedy recovery - Keep us posted. Hugs Janet