IndioGirl55

Distant - NO MORE EXCUSES... Get your butt to the gym.. Congrats on the size 6 pants - we want a pic Ok 1/7 is my nieces bday - I will remember now I think i could use just a small one - my last fill was 10/24 - when I went to the doc on 12/19 he said I didn't need one cuz i had lost 17.5 lbs since my last visit -I sorta agreed with him at the time he said I was losing better than most his banders that I was losing like a bypass person. He does want you to be able to eat and I do agree with that - cuz if i could only eat 1/2 cup of food - then my brain say omg a person can't live off that - I still have that mentallity when I am full on 1 cup - I think - you need more food I think my biggest problem still is the head hunger - I was full from fish & rice last nite - but before bed wanted to eat - had 2 bites of prime rib and got that golf ball - knew I wasn't really hunger - just want to taste the food cuz it's good - but the pain of that golf ball makes you just say it's not worth it... My midnite run was jucie (lite crangrape 40 c for 1 cup). So do i need a fill - i really don't know - it is so hard to distinguish between real hunger and head hunger at times - just cuz i'm full phyically - mentally i'm not. I go back to the doc in 3 weeks and as long as I stay busy and get my exercise in I will be ok. This weekend is suppose to be rainy - so that's Soup weather (good for the waist line) and I have an Earth Wind & Fire concert to go to on the 12th - so need to get something cute for that - so might hit the mall on Saturday.. Talk to ya later...

Bert99 - I am not going to kick you butt - but tell you that you need to start seaching for better food choices - they are there you just gotta look and plan Are you on just Clear Liquids or can you have thin creamed Soups - they helped me the most - I made pot of pinto Beans - took the beans out - put them in my magic bullett puree them then add them back to the bean broth - cream of pinto bean Soup.. I found home made so much better than canned stuff. Also, instant mashed potatoe soup made with skim milk and no Water (to boost protein) Throw the Nutella away - I was guilt of sucking on Peanut Butter before i was suppose to - so I just threw it away - if it's not there you can't eat it and your family doesn't need the junk either. "Better in thee (the trash) than in me " On the liquid stage I was allowed sf puddings, yogurts, fudgecicles, creamed soups, v8 juice, and the awful Protein shakes - mushie 10 days out - mashed potatoes, refried beans, eggbeaters (great omlette w/a little cheese) oatmeal, creamed spinach - zuchinne cooked to death and dover sole baked and mushed up real good - pollenta with a marnia sauce with ricotta cheese - check out the food thread there are a lot of good ideas on what to eat.. It is work to find things that are low calories and within your band guidelines - but it can be done - it's not like driving thru the drive thru to get a quick bite - but once you get the rythem of cooking healthy and planing your meals - it will become your new way of thinking - dinner takes me 30 minutes tops - and i eat very healthy... You can do this...

Newimage - I agree the energy is so great - I was sleeping away my weekends before - I don't like exercise - but I know it's key in my weight loss and I do like the challenge - I want to quit at about 1.5 miles but push myself to do 3 and sometimes on Saturdays I will do 4.. It's so great to be able to buy new clothes - I am able to shop in the regular womens section - no more bbw stores. You can & Will do it - Congrats.

BlooEyes Yes I have 1/2 cup of rice almost every night with dinner. but that's about it for my carbs (usually) Today I had dannon lite & fit yogurt with1/2 banana 3 oz salmon and 1 cup spinach & 4 corn tortilla chips the othe half of banana after lunch - I was hungry... 1 clear protein drink 4 oz salmon 1/2 cup rice 2 reduce fat trisket (sp) w/mustard 3/4 oz cheeze 850 c so far and about 75 grms of pt budget for midnight kitchen raid 80 fudgeclice & 1 sf pudding 60 c So That will give me about 990 c for the day & 80 grm of pt and I haven't eaten my yellow crooked neck squash yet cuz I am full from dinner but if i get hungry (mostly head hunger for me at night) i will have some of my veggies.. and I walked 3 mile at the gym tonite I am a WW girl - so that's pretty much the food plan I follow - I have been having snack bag of smart pop popcorn at night lately for that gotta crunch mode I guess I am lucky - as long as I weigh & measure my food (well I don't measure veggies - but i have a small bowl that holds one cup) 1 cup is alot of food in reality but i still disagree that 1/4 of a pint of ice cream is a serving - back with my fat brain 1 pt was one serving now with my band brain I still think at least 1/2 pint s/b a serving) - i don't eat it but heck come 1/4 of a pint - My suggestion - is throw the truffles out.... if they aren't there you won't eat them - i did not have one piece of see's candy over the holidays - in fact the only treats i had were when I made xmas cookies w/grandaughters - i didn't have any of the sweets that were in my office not one... Jello makes a sf double choc pudding which is excellent i eat these when i need my choc fix...

Hey my 50+ gang how is everyone doing?? I see in my cruise the boards that we have alot of new 50+ people out there getting banded and this thread is getting lost. It was such a big help for me - in my reseach of the band - I found this to be the most informative thread and the "Experienced Banders" really were a big help to me. Well - I am almost 6 months out 1/2 lb away from 60 lbs gone and so now I can be an experienced bander too... For all you newbies - start at page one and read forward you will learn so much and us oldies will answer your questions.... This is a Great Thread - it hasn't been as active lately - but if you post someone will answer......

Peaches I am glad that I got you moving... For me it's all about the exercise... I did have a few cookies & tamales during the holidays - I contribute the no weight gain to the exercise. I could eat more food right now but I am really trying not to - I have been losing .5 lbs each week for the last 2 weeks and I would love to see 1 or 2 pounds gone by next Thursday... I am 1/2 lb from 60 total and I would love to lose 5 lbs by my Bday at the end of the month - it would be great to be 185 on my 53rd bday.... I don't know about the cold - since I live in the Desert - but I guess if you have enought stuff to keep you warm I would do it - last night i was watching my tivo of the clash of choirs and when they were singing Celebrate i was up dancing - and I got some weights to work my arms while i warch t.v. You go tomorrow to see if you have a leak or is it next week? I don't find that my band takes away my hunger - cuz i always have head hunger but it does help with the portion control to a degree - i don't know - i really think i could eat more food if i really wanted to - especially bad unhealthy foods. I am just totally in the zone (well 98% of the time) so i don't... I think before I put stuff in my mouth... And if you are able to exercise you should - there are so many our age and older who can't - due to all the problems from being overweight and it will help you live longer and be more youthful... (i know that word got to you :bounce:- that's the real motivator :bounce:

I was quite set on doing it until I read of all the complications everyone has had!! DARLING NOT EVERYONE HAS COMPLICATIONS - I HAVEN'T HAD A ONE (THANK GOD) IT IS VERY INDIVIDUAL - YOU AND I CAN BUY THE SAME CAR - YOURS IS A LEMON MINE IS GREAT - STUFF HAPPENDS YOU CAN WALK OUT YOUR FRONT DOOR AND GET HIT BY A TRUCK TOO.. I wondered if you could help me answer a few questions about Lap Banding to help me make up my mind? 1) Would you do it again if you could reverse time? YES IN A HEART BEAT 2) Does everyone have such bad pain after the op? NO IT'S THE INDIVIDUAL - I HAVE READ THAT SOME HAVE GONE BACK TO WORK THE NEXT DAY - I WAS BACK AT WORK ON DAY 6 (DESK) 3) How long would I need to take off work after the op? THAT'S UP TO YOU - YOUR AGE TYPE OF WORK YOU DO - I TOOK OFF 4 DAY I'M 52 i HAD SURGERY ON A TUES AND WAS BACK TO WORK ON MONDAY 4) Does everyone have problems with bad breath, dry wretching, nausea, vomitting, leaking ports etc? NOPE NOT EVERYONE HAS THESE PROBLEMS - I HAVE PB BUT THAT'S MY FAULT FOR EATING TOO FAST OR NOT CHEWING meat REAL WELL. 5) Why would you have an 'emergency unfill'? CUZ YOU ARE TOO TIGHT IT CAN TAKE UP TO 2 WEEKS FOR A FILL TO TRUELY SET IT'S SELF 6) Has anyone had one in Belgium or Prague I DON'T KNOW - WE HAVE A GIRL FROM IRELAND IN MY GROUP 7) Can anyone recommend a good surgeon / clinic in the UK? THERE IS A UK THREAD I SUGGUES YOU LOOK THERE 8) Does it really help much more than trying to restrict portions yourself? IMHO IT IS BOTH 75% OF THE WORK IS UP TO YOU BY MAKING HEALTHY food CHOICES AND ADDING EXERCISE IN YOUR LIFE AND 25% IS THE BAND THAT CONTROLS YOUR PORTION SIZE - THIS IS NOT THE MAGIC CURE TO YOUR FOOD ISSUES... THE BAND DOES REQUIRE WORK ON YOUR PART GOOD LUCK..

Our IT person is my very good gf of 20 yrs - so I don't have to worry about getting caught - heck my producer is always sending me stupid hilary put downs or joke... It's a good thing to make friend with your IT person Hope you knee is better - even as much as I dislike exercising - i think i would miss it if I couldn't... Mango 7th fill - that's a lot - heck - i have only had 2 and he wouldn't give me one on 12/21 cuz I had lost 17.5 in the 2 prior months... I think I could use just a tad - I am eating a little more than I would like... but I go back on 1/23 - so I can hold out until then

Liz You need more protein - my doc says 60 grms daily. you are on mushie stage - do you have Protein powder (unflavored) you can add this to instant mash potatoes made with skim milk only to boost the protien - or refried Beans - get the fat free and add a tad of cheese to it... LEAVE THE HAM ALONE !!!! IT'S NOT A MUSHIE.... Follow your doc's eating plan - at mushie stage I had mashed tatoes - refried beans - dover sole baked and mushed up real good - zuchinne cooked to death - creamed spinance - yogurt with protein powder, shakes with protein powder - eggbeaters (just as good as eggs & half the calories) make an omlette add cheese. creamed Soups - oatmeal (weight control it has less sugar) Drink your Water too - 64 oz.. - go to the food section and look up mushie stage for more ideas.. Good Luck

Peaches - you Canadian's are soo funny - your sense of humor - Green has the same sense of humor you guys make me laugh - brick in the head :bounce: So do you take your shoes off when visiting others

Thanks Becky - I was a little worried about getting flamed for sticking my nose in another threads business - but feel that if someone needs help it doesnt matter what month they were banded in that I should give a little insight that they might not have thought of. I think we all need a kick in the butt at one time or another - it's just to easy to slip back into those old eating habits...

I am so proud of my little girl

if my boss knew i was here as much as I am on some days i would be in big trouble - but my work gets' done... It's funny we have never had a fight on this thread - the Dec gang that Karri and I are trying to school - are in a little tiff with each other... I guess we are just one heck of a group..... The others should be jealous

Karri - I understand completely what you just said and you said it so well, so much better that I could (made me tear up) I had just moved to mushies - i was tired (big trigger for me) and hungry - I said - ok i will make cream gravy over mashed potatoes... I put the bacon in the pan and started to fry it.. I looked at it - said yes this is mushie - but this is very bad for you - you didn't go through surgery to continue to eat this crap - so i just threw it away - my aha moment... Yes, this is a hard journey for all of us - I can say that even the people at work here tell me how proud of me for all my hard work - they know it is my choices and my exercise that have helped me loose the 59.5 lbs in 5 months. Also, I am always talking about my friends and they (my friends here at work) look at me going I don't know that person - and then I say oh my friends from Lapband... That how I refer to you all here as my friends cuz I consider you all my friends even though we haven't met (except for Phyl:p) If you get flamed for any of your tought band love - just let me know i got your back - Thanks for sharing !!!!! xoxox Janet

I for one can eat anything I want and I have restriction - I choose to eat healthy - lots of fish (I like it) veggies - brown rice etc. IMHO the band is a great tool - but it's only that - a tool - the band its self isn't going to make you lose weight - only you can do that by choosing healthy foods - you can't keep eating high fat - high sugar foods - the band will let you eat these things and if you choose to continue to eat in this manner you aren't going to be a band success story. IMHO 75% of the work is up to you and the other 25% is the bands job once you get proper restriction It was stated if you could do this pre-band then you wouldn't need the band - to a point I agree as the band is a portion control device but that’s all it is - you control the calories - if you want to be successful you have to make a commitment to changing your eating habit and add exercise into your life. It's not that one piece of cake that made you fat - it was eating the whole damn thing. You can still have cake, candy, fried foods - but only occasionally - not ever day. You have to allow wiggle room (not room enough for another person) to live a normal life - but you have to retrain your brain too. The band is no diff than any other program out there - Some will succeed on WW - Jenny Craig - LA Weight - Bypass & Lapland surgery - but there are those who didn't continue with their commitment to change their eating habits and they will not succeed. Again this is my personal opinion formed from the data on the band and bypass - there are people out there that were either banded or had bypass and have put all the weight they lost back on - Why - did the surgery fail (they would like you to believe that it did - but it didn't - the tool worked) it was the person who chose to go back to their unhealthy eating habits. Plain and simple Please make a determined effort to comply with your band and the eating plan that your doctor has given you . It's great that you are only eating 1 slice of pizza instead of the whole thing - but IMHO this is a lifetime lifestyle change and you can't just rely on the band - you need to learn a new healthy way of eating in combination with the restriction if you are going to be successful in the long run. As fat people we have BAD eating habits - these eating habits have to change. You have to do the work too by making healthy food choices and adding exercise. I understand how hard this is – I am right there with all of you - I understand how hard to refrain from eating the junk. I am a fat chick too - I know all the excuses why we can't do thing - it's just too hard - that why you were banded to have the tool to help (operative word help not do it for you) I am working this - and I feel so much better - and I want this for all of you - I want you all to have the "aha" moment.. I understand that we aren't perfect - but understand that we have to change our old mindset and do the work You need to step up to the plate and take responsibility for yourself - it's you who chooses what you eat not the band... If you eat that cookie - then you gotta add extra exercise or reduce your food at your next meal. I didn't gain one pound over the holidays - I did have 5 xmas Cookies and a couple of tamales - but I increased my excercise and watched what I ate at my other meals - this is what skinny people do... I lost 3.5 lbs between 12/15 & 1/2.. It's a proven statistic that people who keep food diaries have better success in their endevors. Are any of you tracting your food intake?? Having good restiction - doesn't equate to making good food choices - You do that not the band... Hope all your fills help you get proper restriction - it does help but you still got that whole head hunger issue to deal with... Good Luck !!!!

Michael Post op fear none - Happy - I finally would have a tool to help me control my portions.. I eat anywhere between 1000 to 1200 calories daily you are a guy so you are going to lose fasters than us women and I bet you can consume more calories too. My only advice - is know that this is only a tool - just cuz you are banded doesn't me you are going to lose weight without working (healthy food choices & excercise) IMHO 75% of the work is up to you and the other 25% will be the band once you have proper restriction Follow YOUR doctors eating plan - you will want food at time - but you will just have to mustard thru it - the benefits of losing weight far out weight the momentary satisfaction of eating. Head hunger - is our biggest problem - they band our tummy not our brains - just find ways to distract yourself. We are use to comforting ourselves with food - now you can't you will have some issues - but you can work thru them with the knowledge that this too shall pass. This board is a termendous (sp) help - you will find so much support here - read read ask questions. I had surgery on Tues and was back to work on the following Monday (desk job) - port site hurt the most and longest (about 2 week for me) but by day 3 I was feeling pretty good - For me surgery hurt - but they give you great pain meds - I never took any pain meds after I got home (spent 1 night in the hospital) - Gas in your shoulder is the most problmatic - gas x strips are great.. Good Luck on your journey...

Shortgal - I am worried about the long run too... That's why it is so important to retrain yourself that this is a lifetime lifestyle change in eating - if we ever go back to what we considered "normal" we will gain our weight back. Eating healthy is Normal - This is not a diet cuz when you go off the diet you gain your weight back - which we all have done 100 million times before..

I was reading your thread this morning - and you guys don't need to start fighting between yourself - this is your support thread and support doesn't meaning saying it's ok when it's not. Here is some advice from an experienced bander I for one can eat anything I want - I have restriction - I choose to eat healthy - lots of fish (I like it) veggies - brown rice etc. IMHO the band is a great tool - but it's only that - a tool - the band its self isn't going to make you lose weight - only you can do that by choosing healthy foods - you can't keep eating high fat - high sugar foods - the band will let you eat these things and if you choose to continue to eat in this manner you aren't going to be a band success story. IMHO 75% of the work is up to you and the other 25% is the bands job once you get proper restriction It was stated if you could do this pre-band then you wouldn't need the band - to a point I agree as the band is a portion control device but that’s all it is - you control the calories - if you want to be successful you have to make a commitment to changing your eating habit and add exercise into your life. It's not that one piece of cake that made you fat - it was eating the whole damn thing. You can still have cake, candy, fried foods - but only occasionally - not ever day. You have to allow wiggle room (not room enough for another person) to live a normal life - but you have to retrain your brain too. The band is no diff than any other program out there - Some will succeed on WW - Jenny Craig - LA Weight - Bypass & Lapland surgery - but there are those who didn't continue with their commitment to change their eating habits and they will not succeed. Again this is my personal opinion formed from the data on the band and bypass - there are people out there that were either banded or had bypass and have put all the weight they lost back on - Why - did the surgery fail (they would like you to believe that it did - but it didn't - the tool worked) it was the person who chose to go back to their unhealthy eating habits. Plain and simple Please make a determined effort to comply with your band and the eating plan that your doctor has given you Each Doc's instructions are different - and each patient must follow their doctors instructions . It's great that you are only eating 1 slice of pizza instead of the whole thing - but IMHO this is a lifetime lifestyle change and you can't just rely on the band - you need to learn a new healthy way of eating in combination with the restriction if you are going to be successful in the long run. As fat people we have BAD eating habits - these eating habits have to change. You have to do some of the work too by making healthy food choices and adding exercise. We does understand how hard this is – we have been there - we knows it's hard to refrain from eating a hamburger when you have been on liquids for so long. Sometime some of us just don't understand why people who go through all the hassle of surgery - don't take things seriously - that they don't understand that they are going to have to work at this. I am a fat chick too - I know all the excuses why we can't do thing - it's just too hard - that why you were banded to have the tool to help (operative word help not do it for you) You do have to work - and we want you to succeed - we really do. I am working this - and I feel so much better - and We want this for all of you - we want you to have the "aha" moment.. We aren't perfect - but we understand that we have to change our old mindset and do the work - we want you all to understand this too. You will find alot of us banders giving tough love - we aren't going to sugar coat it - You need to step up to the plate and take responsibility for yourself You wanted sympathy, but what you NEEDED was someone to tell you the truth. We have all cheated all our lives - and that's why we are fat - You aren't going to die if you don't have that cookie - but if you choose to keep eating them you will.. Good Luck on your journies - You can do this !!!

Scigal That's why this site is great - it's not skinny people telling you how to do it - It's other fatties - who understand. Know one understands a fat person like another fat person does - so you aren't being chastized by a skinny person who doesn't understand - but by a fatty who does - remember that during this journey - we only mean the best... You are normal - this is a hard new journey and you have a lot to learn - and this is the best site imho to get the support you will need during your journey..

Kathy - I have a little 3x4 sprial notebook (that i got at Target) that I carry with me. I log my food and exercise in. For me it's easy - i throw it in my purse every morning - then throw it on my desk during the day and on my coffee table at night - I don't have to be signed in anywhere to log my food. I just jot down what I ate - calories & protein grams. I jot down my weight each thrusdays and keep a running total of total lost each week.. example of page 1/2 - Wed yogurt/banana 100 c 5 pt meat 150 18 pt veggies 35 2pt fish 200 28 pt rice 120 1 pt veggie 50 2 pt shrimp 100 10 pt popcorm 100 exercise 3 miles

MrsSmartyPants & Scigirl You are right each Doc's instructions are different - and each patient must follow their doctors instructions . It's great that you are only eating 1 slice of pizza instead of the whole thing - but IMHO this is a lifetime lifestyle change and you can't just rely on the band - you need to learn a new healthy way of eating in combination with the restriction if you are going to be successful in the long run. As fat people we have BAD eating habits - these eating habits have to change. You have to do some of the work too by making healthy food choices and adding exercise. Scigirl - Kacee does understand how hard this is - she has been there - she knows it's hard to refrain from eating a hamburger when you have been on liquids for so long. for some of us - we just don't understand why people who go through all the hassle of surgery - don't take things seriously - that they don't understand that they are going to have to work at this. I am a fat chick too - I know all the excuses why we can't do thing - it's just too hard - that why you were banded to have the tool to help (operative word help not do it for you) You do have to work - and we want you to succeed - we really do. I am working this - and I feel so much better - and We want this for all of you - we want you to have the "aha" moment.. We aren't perfect - but we understand that we have to change our old mindset and do the work - we want you all to understand this too. You will find alot of us banders giving tough love - we aren't going to sugar coat it - You need to step up to the plate and take responsiblity for yourself...

Nicole - Motivation - is to have that dress fit ... Aren't you the one who put the challenge out there for us... So I consider you our exercise leader - is that enought pressure aka motivation You are going to have to send us all some that's a lot lower in calories than beef.. Phyl - soup sounds great !!!! I like to mix my refried beans with the lettuce on my plate when I eat mexican I like cole slaw but I am funny about mayo - I don't know how long it's been sitting out in coleslaw - and sometimes it seems really watery.. So I ususally don't eat it - Just the mash potates - and I don't consider mash potatoes or refired beans as fast food - the other stuff yes - fries onion rings zuchinnee hamburgers - but even kfc fried chicken is is real food - Heck I think a big mac has like 800 calories and with soda and fries it's like 1500 calories - omg that more than i eat in one day.. Ok for your chicken wraps - the grilled ones are 270 calories and the fried ones are 320 calories. I am a del taco girl I love red burrittos - 430 calories and I have had one since surgery and ate the whole thing.. Brandy - My doc said the only reason not to drink it was cuz the carbonation depletes your calicum - I have had a diet dr pepper & ginger ale - I have poured them in a glass and let them sit a bit - and sip - I have never been a big soda drinker - about 1 a month - it's not a trigger for me - but sometimes I want a ginger ale or dr pepper - I alway get diet cuz i ain't wasting 200 calories on a soda - I want food for 200 calories... Ok gang - got my exercise in & made the Kathy's Level 2 challenge Tomorrow @ 3:30 getting tooth pulled so I guess I will be doing very soft mushie for a few days... Well I am starving - gotta put my salmon in the oven - will ck back later

Scigal #1 what was your doctors instructions for post-0p diet. Yes there is a pouch without a fill. I did not get soft food until day 21 and day 31 for regular food... #2 you are healing - you can cause your band to slip by eating like this. I for one can eat anything I want - I have restriction - I choose to eat healthy - lots of fish (I like it) veggies - brown rice etc. IMHO the band is a great tool - but it's only that - a tool - the band its self isn't going to make you lose weight - only you can do that by choosing healthy foods - you can't keep eating high fat - high sugar foods - the band will let you eat these things and if you choose to continue to eat in this manner you aren't going to be a band success story. IMHO 75% of the work is up to you and the other 25% is the bands job once you get proper restriction It was stated if you could do this pre-band then you wouldn't need the band - to a point I agree as the band is a portion control device but that’s all it is - you control the calories - if you want to be successful you have to make a commitment to changing your eating habit and add exercise into your life. It's not that one piece of cake that made you fat - it was eating the whole damn thing. You can still have cake, candy, fried foods - but only occasionally - not ever day. You have to allow wiggle room (not room enough for another person) to live a normal life - but you have to retrain your brain too. The band is no diff than any other program out there - Some will succeed on WW - Jenny Craig - LA Weight - Bypass & Lapland surgery - but there are those who didn't continue with their commitment to change their eating habits and they will not succeed. Again this is my personal opinion formed from the data on the band and bypass - there are people out there that were either banded or had bypass and have put all the weight they lost back on - Why - did the surgery fail (they would like you to believe that it did - but it didn't - the tool worked) it was the person who chose to go back to their unhealthy eating habits. Plain and simple Please make a determined effort to comply with your band and the eating plan that your doctor has given you... You will be the winner and not the food - it feel so good to have power over food and not the other way around. You can do this - you really can - nothing tastes as good as thin feels...

Sounds good Karri - I just look at the thread titles and respond... Help i'm not losing - I ask what are you eating - oh never mind - I know i have been making bad choices.. OMG i just can't believe that one or 2 months out you are making bad choices - heck you went through major surgery for Godsake... and you are going to screw this up too.... oh in the back of my mind - I thought it was the easy fix.. Oh i am going to die if i don't get to eat cookies - come on now no you aren't... Us fat people are just big friggin babies.... Spoiled selfish babies... I can say this here without getting flamed... Like I said before - I was the biggest excuse giver - you can't sh*t a b*llsh*ter like me... Ok I will ck out the December thread...

Phyl - I am with you on the exercise - I have already added to my signature yesterday