IndioGirl55

Productive burp - when your last bite comes back up when you burp- it's really not like throwing up - but a little up chuck in your burp and mine wasn't really vounltary - i knew i had over eaten and had the golf ball in the chest with a tad of slime and all of a sudden it came right out - with some slime... didn't hurt and wasn't the same feeling as throwing up - i think for everyone it's a tad different

Penny - Well said - you hit the nail on the head !!!! :clap2::clap2::clap2:

Bridget Sweetheart - You are the same age as my son - so maybe I will be your lapband mom :party:- I am glad to read that you accept my comment as they were intended - to raise awareness not to hurt - I too beleive in honesty and am so glad that you are receptive to it as many aren't. You are not alone in your fears - Giving up "your best freind food" is a hard thing to rap your mind around - I had the same feelings too. But think about it - is food really your best freind - would you your best friend be killing you slowly but surely. When you read Last Meal Mentaltiy - this is what we are talking about - thinking we can't eat again so we stuff ourselves prior to surgery - I gained 5 lbs from 5/31 to 7/6 doing just this. I ate the foods that i can still eat - but that are unhealthy - white gravy & rice - brownies (my downfall) etc - unhealthy food. I can still eat these foods if I chose to and have had a brownie but just 1 not the whole thing. It's about retraining yourself - to eat healthy 98% of the time and maybe once a week have a treat - but again for some once you eat one you gotta have the whole thing - right now i don't cuz i want to lose weight I want to live and i know that even with the band i can eat them but i can't eat as much. I have come to the realization that they really aren't that fantastic. When I was 36 i didn't have any medical problems either - but as the years pass and each one added a few more pounds - all of a sudden -there you are taking blood pressure meds. Sweetheart you have 4 kids and you need to be there for them... I think you need to take some more time and soul searching before you make any decisions. I don't understand why your insurance would cover bypass and not the band - imho i don't think they can do that and maybe you should look into appealing that decision - but again I am not an expert. There are alot of people here who go to mexico, but i truely understand the fear of not being able to get the followup care - maybe you should talk to some who have been banded in Mexico to see how they handle it - go talk to "Wasabubblebutt" she was banded in mexico and is about 8 lbs from goal -(not i gotta warn you she can come off a little strong - but she is a nurse and imho very smart - she is a little bit more ridge in her diet so just take that into consideration as everyone here does things differently and you gotta make it work for you)- but i guess if you can handle me, you can handle her truth too.)- I was lucky that my insurance covered it. As for support -I get mine here on this site. My hospital has a support group but it's mostly bypass - and i would have to drive 20 miles just to go - it's easier just to jump on here to get my support... Good luck Bridget - and I am really happy that you are aware that I am comming from the heart and not trying to hurt you... :D xoxo Janet

Brandy - sorry you got stuck - I think we forget we have a band and just revert to our old eating habits - I agree you might not need a fill - I would wait til after your reunion - My 35 yr will be next Nov (08) hope to be at goal by then .... Have fun seeing all your old friends. Ssankofa - at leat you walked and you need to work your way up to walking faster - at least that's how i am..- how many times around the track?? each lap is 1/4 of a mile.. My exercise today - 58 minutes - 3 miles on intervals flat & 4 incline. burned 436 calories...

Bridget - I giving you toughlove right now - so please don't take offense. #1 My motivation was Health not my looks... I'm 52 and i want to be around to see my grandkids get married - I want a life - I don't want to be old and sick on tons of meds - already on 2 blood pressure meds. There are tons of 50& 60 yr old women & men here who are doing this for their health not their appreance.. and wish they had done it years ago. I CAN eat steak, turkey, I have had b-day cake - I have had a glass of wine, My doc doesn't say you can't drink soda - he say it's not good for you as it depletes your calcuim. I have had a soda - but it's not easy to drink - and it was not totally flat but a little flat. You say your Dad died @ 53 and you don't want to end up in the same boat - but you don't want to do anything about it. Most of us here did not eat cuz we were hungry - we ate cuz we like the taste of food - it's our addiction... What aren't you impressed with - that's its not the magic answer to your weight issues - that you will have to work at it. I think you are right - the lapband isn't for you - cuz it's not the easy way out - there are none - take it from a person who has be over weight most of her life. No matter what you do - weight watchers, jenny craig, nutri system, LA Weight loss, Atkins, South Beach - etc you have to work at it- You have to make healthly food choices and limit your portions. Since you feel that your obsicale is more mental than phyiscal maybe you shoud invest in seeing a good physicoigist that helps people with their weight issues Good luck in your venture to be healthy

KATHY - CONGRATULATAIONS ON THE FINAL ADOPTION OF YOUR DAUGHTER... You have a beautiful family

Breakfast - coffee w/unjury unflavored protein powder (20 grms) SF Yogurt (5 grms) or weight control oatmeal or eggbeaters omelett w/ a little ham & cheese (i don't like sweet stuff for breakfast) maybe an english muffin Lunch - 1 cup of - veggies or cup of soup or soft taco and some refired beans or 3 oz hamburger patty or 1 cup left overs from dinner the night before Dinner - 3 or 4 oz fish or ck (baked) or red meat once a week and veggies and 1/2 cup of brown rice or pasta a small salad w/lite dressing or will have 1 soft taco and beans or rice - or ck enchillad (1 cup) I save my snacks for night time as I am a night time eater - I usually have 1 or 2 sf choc puddings and a healthy request sf fudgecicle or maybe some watermelon. 4 lbs in a month is on par with the 1-2 lbs a week that is the average loss

HERE YOU GO... comp met panel - lipid panel - cbc w/Dif - Vitamin A - Ferritin - Folate B9, rbc Lolabe (can't read this word) - b12 level - Iron & TIBC- magnesium - TSH - Protein total - pre-albumin - b1 2 3 5 6 - D 25 (oh) Serum Zn - Homocystein - Hemoglobin A1C

Dear/darling girlfriend for those who have them instead of husbands - I didn't want to assume that everyone here was straight (since we really haven't discussed our sexuallity here - but again no one has come out and said they have a gf instead of a bf - but didn't want to offend those who are gay - just trying to be polictality correct :0) - I'm a 2007 kinda girl ;0)... Maybe is should have said DM - for mate.. DW = wife for any men that might be here - i thought we had a Chris or John once upon a time - DH darling husband or some times the d can stand for damn - depending if you love them or hate them that day :0)

Penny Weight Watches is my fav weight loss program - as it is the most well balanced (imho), you learn portion control etc - I am not going to a class or anything but am using that as my basis for weight loss - keeping a food diary, exercise - drink your Water - the eating healthy - diet whatever name you want to put on it -My main priority is to get my 60 Proteins and from there use what i learned in WW - veggies next then carbs. I eat cuz i like the way it taste - I eat cuz I am bored... I don't go to a counsler but some here do. You have a tought job. I am just doing it - I want to live for a few more. I had gotten to the point where i just slept away the weekends - ate and slept.. Was tired all the time - I want to be able to do things when I retire - h*ll just getting in and out of the car was a pain in the butt - i'm 5'4 and was 245 - gain 5 lbs from my last meal mentallity and now am 228 - I am highly motivated right now love watch the weight come off.. And when the motivation sags a little - the band doesn't let me eat as much as i use to..

OK whos bringing the dh dg dw etc - or is this a solo curise?? Sounds good to me - cuz for me not airfare ;0) you know if you go single its 200% of the 300 - so us singles would have to room or pay the cost whichever they want - any smokers out there?? I like the balcony cuz i only smoke outside. I am a past carnival & royal caribeen curise...

Whatever works :confused: -

My doc & nurtistionist have me taking calcium citrate as is better absorbed than calcium carbonate In an article from the November, 1999 issue of The Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, Howard J. Heller, MD and his colleagues compared the calcium absorption of Citracal (a calcium citrate formulation) and Os-Cal (a calcium carbonate one) after a single oral dose (500 mg calcium), taken with a meal. By measuring blood levels of calcium, they demonstrated that calcium citrate is 2.5 times more bioavailable (easier for your body to use) than calcium carbonate.

Denise - Sorry to hear you are having such a tough time - maybe the unfill will get you to your sweetspot - :confused:...

Bridget & Penny I will give you my take on the band - this is my opinion and you will find that it can vary from others here - we are all individual and everyone chooses different ways to work with their band. #1 - the band is a tool to help control your portions - it's not the magic pill to end all your weight issues - period end of story - it will do 25% of the work (controling portion size) but the remaining 75% is up to you(head work). #2 - You have to make a lifetime committment to this - each doctor has their own set of rules as to your diet - Mine - no drinking 1/2 hr before, during or after meals (it's really not that bad - it's the time after that I really want to drink - but what's a 1/2 hr - it's doable.) I had a pre-op diet - my post op diet 10 days full liquids (includes creamed soups) 10 days mushie food - 10 days soft food - then regular - you must drink 64 oz Water - get minimum 60 grams of Protein - take Vitamins for the rest of your life. #3 - The amount of food you eat depends on your restiction - at first i could only eat 1/2 c of food - then 1 cup - then 2 cup - I had my 1st fill on 9/5 - and can eat about 1 to 1 & 1/2 cups food per meal - I had more restriction at first but it has loosened up - will call to get another one shortly #4 - I eat about 1000 - 1200 calorie a day - That you will find also differs between who you talk to and what their doctors say. imho this is a good amount of calories to lose weight with. #5 - You must eat healthy - and i suspect you understand what that is - as if you are like the rest of us you have been on plenty of diets.(low fat - sugar free ect) plus you must excercise . #6 - You say you want a normal life - is eating 3000 calories a day normal - Your normal life got you to the place where you are looking into the band. I would not say that's normal - Please understand I am not trying to be mean here - but we have to face the fact that we are FAT and have a major addiction to food. You will have this addiction for the rest of your life just like a drug addict (the band is not going to take away your addiction but is a tool to help control it) - You will have to deal with alot of mental issues as to why you eat - I will be full - but still want to continue eating (Head Hunger) - Bored - tired - stress all the reason we eat - those thing are never going to go away. #7 - I'm 52, have high blood pressure, have been fat for most of my life I love my band - it helps me feel full faster - I am not eating large portions - i am not eating 2nds or 3rds for dinner. But i gotta tell you I am doing most of the work by eating correctly and exercising - here is a typical days food intake for me Breakfast - coffee w/unjury unflavored Protein powder (20 grms) SF Yogurt (5 grms) or eggbeaters omelett w/ a little ham & cheese (i don't like sweet stuff for breakfast) lunch - 1 cup of - veggies or cup of Soup w/protein powder or soft taco and some refired Beans or 3 oz hamburger patty Dinner - 3 or 4 oz fish or ck (baked) or red meat once a week and veggies and 1/2 cup of brown rice or Pasta a small salad w/lite dressing or will have 1 soft taco and beans or rice - or ck enchillad (1 cup) I save my Snacks for night time as I am a night time eater - I usually have 1 or 2 sf choc puddings and a healthy request sf fudgecicle or maybe some watermelon. On special occassions - I have had a slice of pizza - bday cake - etc but right now i am trying to loose weight and not maintain now so once I get to my goal weight - i will not return to eating like i use to "normal" cuz if i do that I will regain my weight - this is a lifetime change of eating habits. If you watch a healthy skinny person eat - they aren't chowing down fast food - morning noon and night - they aren't eating tons of fried food tons of sweet etc. What do you want?? Are you really committed to losing the weight and keeping it off for the rest of your life - if you want to be sucessful with the band - then you are going to have to make a LIFETIME commitment to eating healthy and exercising - your band will help with the portion control - but it doesn't band your head - and that's where 99% of the problems lies. I also go to the gym 5 days a week.... Today is my 2 month band anniversary and as of last thrusday I have lost 32 pounds. (i only weigh in once a week) Without the the help of the band this would not have been possible in my humble opnion It's up to you - how committed are you to change your life..... Good luck on your journey....

It's at home but - I will tonite ....

NMsunshine - No i haven't - you might want to take a pecide before bed. My doc gave me a scrip before surgery and they gave it to me in the hospital - but i have never taken since - I have never been on to get heartburn - sometime from wine or a margirita but that's it.. Didn't you go to Mexico?? Can you call the clinic and ask them??

I'm with you Laura - I don't keep it in the house - I have my healthy request fudgecicles sf & sf chocolate pudding - but i want a cookie - but i just don't buy them cuz i can't just eat one ... I gotta find a low calorie but good tasting receipe

The medifast has only 11 grams of pt (been there and done that one twice - but I do like the banana cream shakes and the cream of ck & broc Soups )- I don't know about Rivvaal ???

Ok imho you need a Protein shake (do you have protein powder) in the a.m. if you can't eat or some clear Liquid Protein - my doc sells some great stuff proti 15 and has 15g of protein and for lunch too. Take your Vitamins... Put them by your bed and take every night before you go to sleep.. (this is what i do - if i don't see them I will forget - i ususally take mine about every other day - 2 at a time) and start eating healthy again Make sure you are getting 64 grms protein No wonder you don't feel good.... Get back on program GF - and you will feel better ... Good Luck

prbooksie - are you taking Vitamins??? I take flinstone with Iron per my doctor. In my book I have a paper to give to my pcp to run blood test every six months and gives a list of what i should be tested for. I am not tired all the time - but I do eat my veggies daily and i consume about 1000 - 1200 daily... Are you getting enough calories??

Today, Yesterday, Tomorrow I will stay on plan as this is my new life !!!

Is it tape or glue - try baby oil

Celeste - Welcome back!! Contrats on the 5lb on vacation - Good luck with your fill Chim - We seem to forget sometimes that we have the band - the big bites not chewing etc - but then it sure does remind us doesn't it... Dini - Congrats on 163 - that great !!! Only4me - I hate the scales as as they can be so fickle - one day +2 next day -4 - Its great that you aren't going nuts - Linda - that so cook that the BF noticed :clap2::clap2:

My doctors reason for no soda/carbonation is it depletes your calicum. I was craving a diet dr pepper the other day - i poured in a glass and let it sit for a bit and then sipped it.. I have never been a big soda drinker - every now and then I want one - so no biggie to me - i rather have ice tea = it's the no straw rule that gets me... I have order ice tea from starbucks and after a few sips realized "Im not suppose to drink from a straw) - didn't hurt so whats the big deal - air you swallow air when you drink out of a glass too,