IndioGirl55

Merry Christmas Everyone Hope you all have a very safe & happy Christmas - Enjoy your families and all the blessings that you have.. Even have a treat.. It's obivious that we are all blessed with our bands and friendship & support that we have here... I thank you all for your support and help in 2007 and look forward to a GREAT & HEALTHY NEW YEARS..

Merry Christmas Everyone Hope you all have a very safe & happy Christmas - Enjoy your families and all the blessings that you have.. Even have a treat.. It's obivious that we are all blessed with our bands and friendship & support that we have here... I thank you all for your support and help in 2007 and look forward to a GREAT & HEALTHY NEW YEARS..

I downloaded these along time ago - forgot i even had them... til NMsunshine posted - then said Oh I have these and they are a little easir to insert than the ones below.. It seems like only the single people are on line tonite - everyone must be with families or parties ... I have been w/DIL & grandkids for the last 2 days making cookies & tamales... Tomorrow is my wrapping day and rest...

I am only 5 months out - I wasn't a big junk or fast food eater to begin with - I just ate too much food period and didn't exercise - I did eat high fat and sugar foods before - I would make a tamale pie on Friday nite and it would be 3/4 gone before i went to bed and some times it would be all gone... For me it has just become a lifetime lifestyle way of eating - I eat 4-5 oz of fish for dinner - 1/2 c rice and veggies - i am full .. I don't keep junk in the house - If I do go out to eat (about once every 2 weeks) I eat 1 taco instead of taco, enchillda, rice & bean - I record all my food & exercise in my food diary - I exercise 4-5 days a week. IMHO i took very drastic measure by having surgery to lose the weight so i am utililizing the tool that I have been given I want to live and i think after 52 yrs i have really got it - that it's is a lifetime lifestyle change - i have never lost this amount of weight on any diet before - the most i have lost was 35 - 40 and that was with the help of drugs...

Welcome Nancy - This is a great place for support and info for newbies... It has been my support system since the begining of my journey to be banded and my support system since. My hospital is starting a lapband only group in February - but it wil only meet once a month - here you come when ever you feel like it and there is always someone to talk to about your issues or victories....

Elisa - that pain will happen if you eat too fast (which for most of us has always been a problem) or don't chew well - it sorta feels like you swallowed a ping pong ball that won't go down - it sorta hurts but not real pain for me.. you do forget sometimes and eat too fast - and it will happen - then you say oh ya I have a lapband.. I chose my band as it is less invasive - you don't have the whole malnurtion issue that you do with bypass - you might not lose the weight as fast but at the end of 2 yrs they say our weight lost is the same - but imho what really is the key to lossing weight - is healthy food choices and exercise.

O i have these too -

Hey Brandy... congrats on 1/2 lbs:clap2: - if 14's are too big are you now 12 or 10:clap2: I just got back from my son's house - DIL & I made 20 lbs of tamales.. I had 2 and 3 choc chip cookies... Well, will ck back later..

Good Morning Gang .... I'm back from the gym - did 3 miles today... Now gotta get ready to make tamales.. Will ck back later this afternoon....

Teamcarey - 1 piece of cake is ok - it is real life - it is what normal eating people do - it's not that one piece that adds 5 lbs - its the 2nd 3rd or whole damn thing. If you have the cake take a extra long walk - when I have a treat I pay myself back by exercising a little more. Exercise is $$$ in the bank - it allows you to have a treat now and then Good Luck & Merry Christmas...

Phyl - you got your protein in with that hot dog and not eating the roll is the changes in our eating that are going to make us successfull... That was 200 calories less than what you would have eaten pre-banding by not eating the bread.. I'm like Earl I like my raisins on the dry side not too juciy Thanks Linda !!! It is such a battle - for me the real test will be 3 yrs from now - will i still be successful - do you know that just cuz i am so gun ho now that i am afaird of what the furture holds.. Will this really be a lifetime lifestyle change for me.. I don't want you to be discouraged - this is a life long battle - just take it one hour at a time if need be - just feel the power when you say NO - it is a powerful feeling when you have control - It's not all about the food - it's about the power - you are the one with the gray matter between your ears - you are more powerful that that cookie on the plate.. I find that more comforting that eating,.... But again sometime i miss it.. We are here for you ...

Elisa You can feel your port under your skin when you look for it - but just sitting here no I don't feel it. Your port site is what usually hurts the longest after surgery - I think about 2 week you can have a little discomfort at the port site - I never took any pain meds after I left the hospital. As to the other pain everyone talks about - I guess you mean the gas pains - I had a bad attack on day 2 in my right shoulder but I was still in the hospital so the pain shot fixed it - but after I got home I just took the gasx strips and it took care of the gas.. They say walking & heating pad helps too.. But never really had too much pain once I got home.. Hope this answered your questions.. If you have more just ask..

I understand the op's frustrations - she has found her answer and wants every other fat person to do this too.. I can be exactly the same - I told a girl at work she should look into it.. But - insubordination is so right - this is no diff that someone finding God and pushing your new found beliefs on them.. She's not ready - pre-banding were we ready to face another diet food plan what every you want to call it - NOPE - prior to the band I had just given up and anyone who talked to me about losing weight - only made me eat more... You can lead a horse to Water but you can't make him drink... Let your success speak for it's self...

Elisa No I don't feel it - the only time I would say you feel it is when you eat too much or too fast or get stuck - but that's really the food backing up on you - I don't feel the piece of plastic around the outside of my stomach Good luck I your journey - I love my band - it is the greatest tool imho.

:clap2: Hey Girl it's great to hear from you - we sure do miss you... Hope you and yours have a Blessed Christmas & New Years - You gotta promise to spend some more time here.. How's the body bugg doing... Brandy - Way to go :clap2: - Dont you fee just so much better... I know I do.. OMG - Yes it was my fault cuz I didn't close his door... I like crystal lite - fruit punch is my fav- but i like plain water too - I have always been a water or ice tea drinker. OK my report on Cookie Making !!!!!! Had a great time with my GD's & DIL. You want to know what the cookies were ok - but i didn't really die for them - BUT my DIL made some homemade choc chip w/walnuts - OMG those are better than the xmas coookie - i think the xmas cookie are too sweet or rich or something - i really was ok with the 2 i had - and 2 choc chip - I brought home 3 choc chips for me & some xmas for my GS - they are in his room So I don't think I did bad at all - especially since these are my first real sweets of the season My DIL made dinner and ate 1/2 c meat - 1/2 corn tortilla (found a new store that makes them-but they sorta stuck I had 2 bites and had to wait til it went down and I was hungry) 1/4 c rice - and am full... So all in all I am in control and not out of control like I thought i might be - while I was bagging up the xmas cookies - I made 2 bags one for Andrew and the other for me - and I looked at it and said - do you really want to take these home - you don't really want them but you will eat them if you take them home - so i didn't bring any of the xmas cookies, only the choc chips.. My NSV today... We also went to the store and got the stuff to make tamales - we started the meat which will cook all nite on low and then tomorrow make the tamales. Well, everyone must be busy with family - as we are very quite again today.. Will ck in later - gotta ck my other threads....

Yes we can - but you know kids - wakes up complaining... I told him be happy - it's not the end of the world - it can be fixed - typical male - blab blab blab - sometimes i think he acts like a DH... You are still at home I thought you would be at the street fair by now..

Program fees are the doctors way around insurance - insurance doesn't pay that much - they want to be a provider for blue cross - they bill bc $1000 they get $150 - so i my opinion it's just a doc's way to make more $$$ - I paid a LARGE program fee - it covers me for 5 yrs - I have no co pays to my doc, have personal attention, see the nurtritionst every time i go - I think my doc give me very good attention for that program fee - I have his cell # if I ever had a problem - - I am lucky enough to have had it and it was for my health - better than buying a diamond ring. what use is a diamond ring when you are dead due to your obesity....

Back from the gym - did 4 miles - shouldn't that count for 2 days of exercise :omg: Well I can try can't I - heck it's better than cheating with food - I usually do 2 miles so the way I figure it 4 miles is 2 days... The dogs just chewed up GS gift card... He is upset with me for leaving his door open (was checking to see if he was home - didn't hear him come in last night) I told him he shouldn't leave stuff on the floor - now we have to go and get a replacement ugh... Well need to hit the shower - and dress for cookie making - I don't want to gain any weight during the holidays - I MUST BE IN CONTROL... I WILL BE IN CONTROL... this will be my mantra today.... Will ck in later..

Welcom Egorsgirl - Pre Happy Birthday !!!! Don't be a lurker - Join us we are a great group and let me tell you as I just post above to Susan - these ladies here were a BIG help to me when I first started my journey to be banded.. You know the whole not drinking with your meal isn't that hard (it wasn't for me) chewing well that's still a problem when I am hungry I tend to eat too fast and not chew.. Well I was just cking in before I head to the gym - talk to you all later.

Horsegirl Never ask a bypass patient if you should do a lapband and don't ask a bander if you should get a bypass:p - I really think it is a personal decision and I, like you didn't want my interior redesigned.. I didn't want the whole dumping & malnutrition issues - IMHO i feel that lapband was my best option... We all have lost tons of weight - I had given up cuz it always came back but I have finally come to the realization that's cuz you go back (slowy) to eating like you use to - I know we have heard it a million times before "Its not a diet but a lifestyle change" - After 52 yrs I think i finally got it - this is a LIFETIME LIFESTYLE change and the band in my interior reminder to that. My doc is great - got tons of info from him & this website.. Read all you can. We are here to support and help each other - I am known for my tough band love (operative word being love) - As a fat person I know all the excuses that we give - I know how we convince ourselfs that we are happy fat.. or why we can't do something... The closer you get to 50 you will understand that you have less years in front of you and more years behind you and I want to extend the years in front of me - that's why I was banded and am working it to the max. Good Luck...

Good Morning - I don't even know who my browser is with - most likely aol... I know just enought about computers to be dangerous... I find the computer a great distraction when I am bored and want to eat. Last night Andrew (gs) was babysitting his 3 bros & 1 sis (his mom's kids with 2nd hubby who i love & still love my x-dil) he called around 9:30 and said he heared noises and then the light in his mom's bedroom came on and the bathroom door was locked - so being the good grandma that i am I drive over there (they live in bermuda dunes) - i go in - unlock the door - check the bathroom and closet and there is NO serial killer or boogy man :omg:. Then Devon (lil Sis) and Andrew want me to stay - so I stayed for about 1/2 hour - It was cute and funny at the same time - I remember the power went out and my Dad came home cuz he knew I would be scared and I was 15 or 16 - I am not afraid of much - execpt when there is no power - that's about the only thing that scares me - Well, it's almost 7 - got up at 6 about to have my 2nd cup of coffee then head to the gym... Oh talking about computers Andrew's 3 brothers were each on their own computers playing mario type games - you want to talk about viedo addicts I am lucky Andrew was never that big of a gamer - but now on the computer all the time on his Myspace.. You see how scary he is by the boogie man sistuation above - so I don't have to be afaird that he will ever meet anyone he meets on line - and really it's just his friend cuz he shows me his myspace sometime.. Well, just cking in - Have fun at COD - NO WIND THIS WAY... It should be PACKED. I am going to try and not go out much for the next 3 days - need to go to the bank and maybe the grocery store but that's it... Talk to you all later...

You will have this post op diet regardless if you are banded or have a bypass After surgery you aren't hungry but as you heal and the swelling goes down your hungry does return. Once you get proper restriction - which can be your first fill or your 10th (it is diff for everyone & some people have restriction just from the band being in place and don't need a fill for quite a while) You don't have to do baby food - you have to have the texture of baby food. This is where protien powder and drinks come in real handy. I ate refried Beans, mashed potatoes, soft mushied up fish - zuchinne cooked real good. Being a meats & potato girl is what got you to the place where you are looking into bariatric surgery... The band is only a TOOL just like bypass is only a tool - it will be up to you to make healthy food choices and add exercise into your life. People who have been banded or have bypass can and do gain their weight back - Also it does depend on what your drug of choice is - are you a sweet eater or just an over eater - candy & ice cream goes right through the band - where as w/bypass you will dump - and have malnutriional problems .. Horsegirl - it doesn't matter which you choose - they both have their problems - it's a personal choice - but what you have to understand that with either of the surgeries - NO MORE FOOD IN THE QUAINTIES OR QUALITIES THAT YOU ARE USE TO EATING IF YOU WANT TO BE SUCCESSFUL... Neither of these surgeries are our quick fix magic cure to our food issues - you will still have head hungry (eating when you aren't really hungry just cuz it taste good) This is a lifetime lifestyle change - not a quick fix... IMHO if you are going to do something as drastic as surgery you better be ready to put the work in to loss the weight.. and let me tell you at times it is work and other times it not. Keep researching - ask questions - there are other surgeries you can have too VGS - but they all require heathly food choices & exercise by you (the one with the brain) cuz they only band your tummy and not the brain and half the problem lies in our mind not our tummies. Good luck on your journey....

Day of surgery felt this crap... Day 2 bad gas pain in right shoulder - Day 3 felt pretty good - port site stayed sore for about 2 week - but was back to work day 6 (desk job)

Susan That's all - I had a millon test - Nutritionist - lungs (i smoke) 2 appts - blood gas - breathing then to see lung doc - 3 visits to the heart dr one for echo - couldn't pass the treadmill had to have a nucular stress test - pap - mamo (ended up having a biospy in August - which was ok) - colon - psych - sleep apeana - did all these between 6/1 - 7/13. But to be honest - I never go to the doctor - so that's why I had to have all these test. Janet

Ok where is everyone... I just finished making the cookie dough since it has to refridgerate for 3 to 4 hrs - overnight should be good.. I ran out of vanila extract - (thought I had a big bottle) so I used vanila carmel coffeemate (sf)... I tasted the dough and it was pretty good.. Well, I guess I am going to go catch up on my soap (amc) havent' watched it all week and the real greenlee is coming back and angie & jesse (who dead-but u know soaps, it's the one place where the impossible can always happen).. Well, will ck back in a bit...