marcyinak

Taynah - You can do the fill alone..it's no biggie, really! Heck, I have to fly about 500 miles, then drive about 15 to get to my fill doc...costs too much to bring someone with me! haha! Darn, I guess I'll just HAVE to have a vacation without the kids! Heehee! Mal - You look fantastic! The out-of-doors doeds you good! No, there's no snow here...yet. We've had A LOT of rain though. Temp is still around 45-50 and I don't think it's even freezing at night yet. Good thing...I have a few more zucchini that need to mature!

Beth - You're doing terrific on the weight loss! I was banded a day before you and I've only lost about 5 lbs since the surgery! (I count my pre-op diet loss in my total loss in my ticker.) I'd say though that if you're hungry you should get a fill...you shouldn't have to live your life hungry...we already know what that's like! There's been some talk about what exactly is a PB and I've come to my own conclusion that it's just different for everyone. I get that "heat flash" feeling with a lot of slobber and then I just go to the bathroom and heave a little and out comes a gob of slobber and it's all over. I guess I'm just blessed with an incredible control of my gag reflex and can just make it move with my motions. I've also noticed that if it takes longer than about 20 minutes to eat I can eat A LOT! It must start going down by then and then I can just re-fill the pouch? What do you think? Something else: My fill doc said that sometimes after a fill the tissue around the fill gets swollen so you are tighter for a few days and then the swelling goes down....this could be what some of you are experiencing. I DID notice that I was tight for the first few days and then I was fine...I just need to remember to not eat those first few bites of a meal too fast...I get over-excited with food in front of me! Well, I weighed myself yesterday and FINALLY got to 238! I swear the scale has a vandetta against me and did not want to go below 239. Now, I'm not getting stuck on numbers, but it was getting ridiculous! I've had sick kids all weekend...lucky me! Connor woke up last night with a fever and the uk-poos...just keeps getting better!

There's been some talk about what exactly is a PB and I've come to my own conclusion that it's just different for everyone. I get that "heat flash" feeling with a lot of slobber and then I just go to the bathroom and heave a little and out comes a gob of slobber and it's all over. I guess I'm just blessed with an incredible control of my gag reflex and can just make it move with my motions. I've also noticed that if it takes longer than about 20 minutes to eat I can eat A LOT! It must start going down by then and then I can just re-fill the pouch? What do you think? Well, I weighed myself yesterday and FINALLY got to 238! I swear the scale has a vandetta against me and did not want to go below 239. Now, I'm not getting stuck on numbers, but it was getting ridiculous! Everyone's been sick this weekend and I thought it was all down hill, but then Connor got sick last night...things just keep gettin' better!

Anita - have you considered taking some of your "favorite" clothes to a tailor? I know Andrew gets his shirts taken in and it costs about $4 per shirt...might be worth it since you'll be even smaller next year? Since I don't really "go to work" I mostly have t-shirts and jeans so a tailor won't work for me...maybe someday I'll actually wear blouses on a regular basis! Haha! Yeah, right! Mal - I've only had one experience with a yurt...well, sort of. At college (Idaho State) they had an Outdoor Program (note: this is when I was skinny and athletic). We (some friends) rented a yurt and planned to x-ski to it...it was the "easy" one, supposed to be less than a 1/2 mile off the road...well, we set out at about 10am. We were all wearing about 75lbs. of beer on our backs (ok, there were SOME essentials, but this was college) and we couldn't find the damn thing! We skied for over 8 hours and decided to head back when the snow was icing over and it was getting dark out...thank heaven we had a friend who had snowshoes on! He pushed us all up the hills because it was too icy to get up on skis! This is a horrible/hillarious memory of mine....needless to say, when we were all done...those were the best beers in the world! Now I'm a Mormon and don't drink, but those WERE the good times! Haha!

Anita - WOW! You look so beautiful! Gotta get yourself a new blouse too! That thing looks like it's hangin' on you! Mal - I'll pitty party with you...while I eat a cookie in your honor! :-)

want2b - Dr. K said I could progress ask I saw fit. The "handout" was really just a guide. I have to tell you that my recovery went quite well and I was eating regular food by week 3, but there were times that I took it slower than necessary - I can't risk issues since it costs so much to get out of Nome and see a doc. I think, as long as you're tolerating liquids go to thicker liquids (creamy soups, potato soups, mashed potatoes and the like) then on to VERY WELL chewed up regular foods. Just taking the time to thoroughly chew something will be just fine...just give it a minute or two between bites to make sure it's going down ok.

I made some zucchini bread with my greenhouse harvest today. It's yummy! Now, if I could just stop myself from grazing! The kids like it and I'm just going to let them eat it up! See how I sacrifice the kids?! :-) It's Stormy's 2nd birthday today...she wanted popcorn and a "milkshake" for breakfast...ok, why not? I added some protein to the shake and she wasn't able to finish the popcorn! Haha!

Kelly - thanks for remembering me. I feel the same way about liquid medicine and totally empathize with the kids when they need to take some meds. Liq. vicodin is AWFUL! So bad that I chucked it when I was done "needing" it...usually I keep those narcotics handy for an "emergency". I'd rather be in pain than take that stuff again! I made some zucchini bread with my greenhouse harvest today. It's yummy! Now, if I could just stop myself from grazing! The kids like it and I'm just going to let them eat it up! See how I sacrifice the kids?! :-) It's Stormy's 2nd birthday today...she wanted popcorn and a "milkshake" for breakfast...ok, why not? I added some protein to the shake and she wasn't able to finish the popcorn! Haha!

Kathy - WAHOO! Congratulations! I love the dress too! You are doing so well! Time to update your photo! Sexy mama! Peaches - I think you only need freak out when YOU feel that you are just not ever satisfied. There are days when the food just goes down easily and days where you just can't get much down at all. It's all about our choices for food and you seem to be doing ok with the choices. Under 1200 calories for the day ain't that bad...considering most of us were probably eating over 3000/day pre-band! Take it easy and keep track of what you're eating...somehow that helps us to stop eating. It's obvious I'm in need of another fill...I can totally eat more than 1 1/2 cups of food at a whack. I've noticed that I PB a lot more than everyone else, but I also start eating my meals with fervor and take big bites and don't chew well enough...I'd say I PB at least twice a week...nothing big, just need to re-adjust the food in my body so it will go down and into my pouch. I've also noticed that when I eat too slow I can shove an unacceptable amount of food in me! YIKES! I try to use the band as a tool, but the tool needs some maintenance for me to continue here. I'm totally jealous of you all that can get fills easily...without all the travel and money involved for me! (I figured that with airfare, the fill appt. and shopping, etc. it costs about $1000 for each fill!) Count your many blessings! I'll start counting calories!

Well, it's about 50 degrees here in Nome, weather has been CRAPPY this whole week, but the waves pushed a lot of sea glass (pieces of glass rubbed soft by the water/sand) onto the shore so I've been out the past couple of days collecting it. I found some of the coveted blue glass today and that was exciting. My little girl started finding some too. I don't know what's wrong with me. I resolved the other night to just have protein shakes for a few days for breakfast and lunch - which is usually not a problem. So I do that, but then 4pm comes around and I'm grazing (not good choices either) and have a large supper. I tried chicken again and it didn't go down all that well. But last night I was able to eat THREE pieces of pizza! What the heck?!?! I feel like a pig! Excersize has been better for me this week though. We, the family, have been to the pool twice this week and then there's the beach combing (lots up up down, up down) and I went for a killer 50 min. walk yesterday with a friend. I'm hoping to keep it up...we'll see though. Now if I could just keep the crap out of my house I wouldn't eat it! What was I thinking buying Red Fish (Sweedish Fish to some of you)...you just can't stop at one! AAAAHHHHHH!!!!!

Breadlady - I also get hungry at night. I've never been a late-night eater so going to bed with my tummy grumbling isn't that big of a deal, but I wonder what's really going on if I'm so hungry at night? bluebike - Good for you! I look forward to a "perfect" fill soon...I know I'm able to eat WAY too much! Lynette - I think you missed my anniversary! DH surprised me and took me out to a cabin for the night...then surprised me with a new WHOPPING diamond for my wedding band! He's been planning it for YEARS! Oh, I do so regret all those times I got mad about not taking the trash out! Haha! Well, it's about 50 degrees here in Nome, weather has been CRAPPY this whole week, but the waves pushed a lot of sea glass (pieces of glass rubbed soft by the water/sand) onto the shore so I've been out the past couple of days collecting it. I found some of the coveted blue glass today and that was exciting. My little girl started finding some too. I don't know what's wrong with me. I resolved the other night to just have protein shakes for a few days for breakfast and lunch - which is usually not a problem. So I do that, but then 4pm comes around and I'm grazing (not good choices either) and have a large supper. I tried chicken again and it didn't go down all that well. But last night I was able to eat THREE pieces of pizza! What the heck?!?! I feel like a pig! Excersize has been better for me this week though. We, the family, have been to the pool twice this week and then there's the beach combing (lots up up down, up down) and I went for a killer 50 min. walk yesterday with a friend. I'm hoping to keep it up...we'll see though. Now if I could just keep the crap out of my house I wouldn't eat it! What was I thinking buying Red Fish (Sweedish Fish to some of you)...you just can't stop at one! AAAAHHHHHH!!!!!

Hey,I was on another thread and someone posted this link...I copied it becaue it was good info. Sorry it's long, but it's pretty good! How to Tell When You Are Perfectly Adjusted You are losing 1-2 pounds per week. If you are not losing 1-2 pounds per week: A. You may need an eating adjustment 1. Are you eating 60 grams of protein a day 2. Are you eating 25 grams of fiber 3. Are you avoiding all liquid calories a. Soup can be sign of “soft calorie syndrome” b. Alcohol contains a lot of calories – 7 calories per gram (1) It’s also a stomach irritant c. Fruit juice is just sugar water 4. Are you making healthy food choices from a wide variety of foods? a. Are you avoiding soft foods b. You can’t just eat what’s easy c. Cheese is glorified fat 5. Are you drinking 6-8 glasses of water a day between meals 6. Are you eating too much junk a. Chips, chocolate, nuts, ice cream, cookies and other highly processed junk foods are too calorically dense to be regular parts of a healthy diet. But don’t avoid them completely to the point where you feel deprived. b. Stay out of fast food places 7. Are you getting in two servings of calcium daily 8. Do you always eat the protein first 9. Then the vegetables or fruits a. Five servings a day b. Potatoes are NOT a vegetable 10. Is your portion size appropriate? a. Meat or fish (1) 3 ounces – the size of a deck of cards b. Vegetables (1) ½ cup – the size of your fist c. Starch (1) If you eat the protein and the vegetables first you don’t need much (2) Avoid: rice, potatoes, pasta 11. You might try avoiding artificial sweeteners a. Some people think that artificial sweeteners stimulate the appetite b. They are HUNDREDS of times sweeter than sugar c. They teach you to like things too sweet d. There is no evidence that people who use them are any thinner than people who don’t 12. Avoid most diet foods a. Real food usually tastes better b. Real food is more satisfying than low calorie substitutes c. When you are only eating a tiny bit the caloric savings is not that great (1) Use a teaspoon of real butter instead of a tablespoon of diet margarine (2) The body has no way to break down artificial fats a. They may go into permanent storage b. Some people think liposuction is the only way to remove hydrolyzed fats from the body B. You may need a behavior adjustment 1. Are you eating only when you are hungry? a. If you’re not sure drink 8 ounces of water and wait. 2. Are you eating three meals a day? a. With maybe 1 or 2 small snacks 3. Are you sitting down to eat? 4. Are you eating consciously? a. No distractions, turn off the TV, put the book or newspaper away, pay attention to your food and your companions 5. Are you eating slowly? a. Put the fork down between bites b. Take 20 to 30 minutes to finish a meal c. Taking longer might cause the pouch to begin emptying 6. Are you taking small bites? a. Tiny spoon, chopsticks, cocktail fork 7. Are you chewing well? 8. Are you drinking with your meals or too soon after your meals? a. Practice water loading between meals b. You won’t be thirsty if you are well hydrated before the meal 9. Are you stopping at the first sign of fullness? a. Sometimes it’s a whisper: not hungry, had enough b. Hard stop versus soft stop 10. Do not eat between meals. Stop grazing. 11. Do not eat when you are not hungry C. You may need an activity adjustment 1. Are you getting in 30 minutes of physical activity at least 3 times a week? a. Over and above what you would do in the usual course of your day b. Could you make it 4 or 5 times a week? c. Could you make it 45 or 60 minutes? 2. Are you taking advantage of opportunities to increase your physical activity? a. Taking the stairs instead of the elevators or escalators b. Walking on the escalators instead of riding c. Parking your car further away from the entrance d. Getting out of the car instead of using the drive through e. Getting off the bus one stop before your destination f. Washing you car by hand instead of the car wash g. Playing with your kids D. You may need an attitude adjustment 1. Are you committed to your weight loss journey? 2. Are you totally honest with yourself about how much you are eating and exercising? a. Log your food and activity on ww.fitday.com for 3 days 3. Are you using food inappropriately to deal with emotional issues? a. Have you identified what the emotions are that drive your eating? b. Can you think of more appropriate ways to deal with those emotions? c. Are you willing to seek help from a qualified counselor? 4. Are you attending and participating in support group meetings? 5. Have you drummed up some support from your family and friends? 6. Have you dealt with saboteurs realistically? 7. Do you have realistic expectations about the weight loss journey? 8. Are you still obsessing about food, weight, dieting, eating? a. Obsessive – compulsive thoughts (1) Obsess about something else b. Perfectionism (1) All or none, black and white thinking c. Patience with the pace of healthy weight loss 9. Are you acknowledging your successes with non-food rewards? 10. Have you learned how to take a compliment? 11. Are you giving up diet mentality? a. Stop weighing yourself several times a day or every day b. Stop dieting c. Stop depriving yourself d. Stop defining food as “good” and “bad” e. Stop rewarding and punishing yourself with food 12. How do you feel about all the changes taking place? E. You may need a band adjustment 1. You feel like you are making healthy food choices in appropriate portion sizes but getting hungry between meals? 2. You can still eat white bread, fibrous vegetables and large portions. 3. You are having to struggle to lose 4. You are gaining weight in spite of eating right, exercising and having a good mind set. F. You may need your band loosened 1. There are times when you can’t get fluids down 2. You are vomiting too much a. How much is too much? 3. Do you have frequent reflux or heartburn at night? a. Do not lie flat or bend over soon after eating b. Do not eat late at night or just before bedtime c. Rinse your pouch with a glass or water an hour before bedtime d. Certain foods or drinks are more likely to cause reflux: (1) Rich, spicy, fatty and fried foods (2) Chocolate (3) Caffeine (4) Alcohol (5) Some fruits and vegetables a. Oranges, lemons, tomatoes, peppers (6) Peppermint a. Baking soda toothpaste (7) Carbonated drinks e. Eat slowly and do not eat big meals f. If you smoke, quit smoking g. Reduce stress h. Exercise promotes digestion i. Raise the head of your bed j. Wear loose fitting clothing around your waist k. Stress increases reflux l. Take estrogen containing medications in the morning m. Avoid aspirin, Aleve and ibuprofen at bedtime (1) Tylenol is OK n. Take an antacid (Pepcid complete) before retiring o. Try other over-the-counter heartburn medications p. See your health care provider 4. See your health care provider immediately (or call 911) if a. You have a squeezing, tightness or heaviness in your chest, especially if the discomfort spreads to your shoulder, arm or jaw or is accompanied by shortness of breath, sweating, irregular or fast heartbeat or nausea. These could be symptoms of a heart attack. b. If your symptoms are triggered by exercise. c. If your pain localizes to your right side, especially if you also have nausea or fever d. If you throw up vomit that looks like black sand or coffee grounds. Or if your stool is black, deep red or looks like it has tar in it. These are symptoms of bleeding and need immediate attention. (Note: Pepto-Bismol or other medications with bismuth will turn your stool black. Iron supplements can also make the stool tarry.) e. If your pain is severe This was written by Jessie H. Ahroni, Ph.D., A.R.N.P., C.D.E., B.C.-A.D.M.

Taynah - you'll be surprised (and sad) that you'll be able to drink and even eat a whole lot more than you expeced...that's what the fill is for. Dr. K let me progress on liquids, soft foods, and reg. foods as I saw fit. I was eating regular by about 4 weeks...and I felt I was taking it slow. After my first fill I just drank shakes for about two days then hit a wedding and had some chicken, tomato salad, and olives. Everything went fine...now it's too fine and I'm headed for another fill. Take your time and just RECOVER! Walk, sister, walk...I can't stress it enough...I don't and, like Woofay, HATE excersize and I haven't lost a pound in weeks! AAUUUGGGHHH!

Hey, on another thread, someone posted a link to an "Adjustments" page...thought it was VERY helpful so I'll post it here, sorry it's so long. How to Tell When You Are Perfectly Adjusted You are losing 1-2 pounds per week. If you are not losing 1-2 pounds per week: A. You may need an eating adjustment 1. Are you eating 60 grams of Protein a day 2. Are you eating 25 grams of Fiber 3. Are you avoiding all liquid calories a. Soup can be sign of “soft calorie syndrome” b. Alcohol contains a lot of calories – 7 calories per gram (1) It’s also a stomach irritant c. fruit juice is just sugar Water 4. Are you making healthy food choices from a wide variety of foods? a. Are you avoiding soft foods b. You can’t just eat what’s easy c. cheese is glorified fat 5. Are you drinking 6-8 glasses of water a day between meals 6. Are you eating too much junk a. chips, chocolate, nuts, ice cream, Cookies and other highly processed junk foods are too calorically dense to be regular parts of a healthy diet. But don’t avoid them completely to the point where you feel deprived. b. Stay out of fast food places 7. Are you getting in two servings of Calcium daily 8. Do you always eat the protein first 9. Then the vegetables or fruits a. Five servings a day b. Potatoes are NOT a vegetable 10. Is your portion size appropriate? a. meat or fish (1) 3 ounces – the size of a deck of cards b. Vegetables (1) ½ cup – the size of your fist c. Starch (1) If you eat the protein and the vegetables first you don’t need much (2) Avoid: rice, potatoes, Pasta 11. You might try avoiding artificial sweeteners a. Some people think that artificial sweeteners stimulate the appetite b. They are HUNDREDS of times sweeter than sugar c. They teach you to like things too sweet d. There is no evidence that people who use them are any thinner than people who don’t 12. Avoid most diet foods a. Real food usually tastes better b. Real food is more satisfying than low calorie substitutes c. When you are only eating a tiny bit the caloric savings is not that great (1) Use a teaspoon of real butter instead of a tablespoon of diet margarine (2) The body has no way to break down artificial fats a. They may go into permanent storage b. Some people think liposuction is the only way to remove hydrolyzed fats from the body B. You may need a behavior adjustment 1. Are you eating only when you are hungry? a. If you’re not sure drink 8 ounces of water and wait. 2. Are you eating three meals a day? a. With maybe 1 or 2 small Snacks 3. Are you sitting down to eat? 4. Are you eating consciously? a. No distractions, turn off the TV, put the book or newspaper away, pay attention to your food and your companions 5. Are you eating slowly? a. Put the fork down between bites b. Take 20 to 30 minutes to finish a meal c. Taking longer might cause the pouch to begin emptying 6. Are you taking small bites? a. Tiny spoon, chopsticks, cocktail fork 7. Are you chewing well? 8. Are you drinking with your meals or too soon after your meals? a. Practice water loading between meals b. You won’t be thirsty if you are well hydrated before the meal 9. Are you stopping at the first sign of fullness? a. Sometimes it’s a whisper: not hungry, had enough b. Hard stop versus soft stop 10. Do not eat between meals. Stop grazing. 11. Do not eat when you are not hungry C. You may need an activity adjustment 1. Are you getting in 30 minutes of physical activity at least 3 times a week? a. Over and above what you would do in the usual course of your day b. Could you make it 4 or 5 times a week? c. Could you make it 45 or 60 minutes? 2. Are you taking advantage of opportunities to increase your physical activity? a. Taking the stairs instead of the elevators or escalators b. Walking on the escalators instead of riding c. Parking your car further away from the entrance d. Getting out of the car instead of using the drive through e. Getting off the bus one stop before your destination f. Washing you car by hand instead of the car wash g. Playing with your kids D. You may need an attitude adjustment 1. Are you committed to your weight loss journey? 2. Are you totally honest with yourself about how much you are eating and exercising? a. Log your food and activity on ww.fitday.com for 3 days 3. Are you using food inappropriately to deal with emotional issues? a. Have you identified what the emotions are that drive your eating? b. Can you think of more appropriate ways to deal with those emotions? c. Are you willing to seek help from a qualified counselor? 4. Are you attending and participating in support group meetings? 5. Have you drummed up some support from your family and friends? 6. Have you dealt with saboteurs realistically? 7. Do you have realistic expectations about the weight loss journey? 8. Are you still obsessing about food, weight, dieting, eating? a. Obsessive – compulsive thoughts (1) Obsess about something else b. Perfectionism (1) All or none, black and white thinking c. Patience with the pace of healthy weight loss 9. Are you acknowledging your successes with non-food rewards? 10. Have you learned how to take a compliment? 11. Are you giving up diet mentality? a. Stop weighing yourself several times a day or every day b. Stop dieting c. Stop depriving yourself d. Stop defining food as “good” and “bad” e. Stop rewarding and punishing yourself with food 12. How do you feel about all the changes taking place? E. You may need a band adjustment 1. You feel like you are making healthy food choices in appropriate portion sizes but getting hungry between meals? 2. You can still eat white bread, fibrous vegetables and large portions. 3. You are having to struggle to lose 4. You are gaining weight in spite of eating right, exercising and having a good mind set. F. You may need your band loosened 1. There are times when you can’t get fluids down 2. You are vomiting too much a. How much is too much? 3. Do you have frequent reflux or heartburn at night? a. Do not lie flat or bend over soon after eating b. Do not eat late at night or just before bedtime c. Rinse your pouch with a glass or water an hour before bedtime d. Certain foods or drinks are more likely to cause reflux: (1) Rich, spicy, fatty and fried foods (2) Chocolate (3) Caffeine (4) Alcohol (5) Some fruits and vegetables a. Oranges, lemons, tomatoes, peppers (6) Peppermint a. Baking soda toothpaste (7) Carbonated drinks e. Eat slowly and do not eat big meals f. If you smoke, quit smoking g. Reduce stress h. Exercise promotes digestion i. Raise the head of your bed j. Wear loose fitting clothing around your waist k. Stress increases reflux l. Take estrogen containing medications in the morning m. Avoid aspirin, Aleve and ibuprofen at bedtime (1) Tylenol is OK n. Take an antacid (Pepcid complete) before retiring o. Try other over-the-counter heartburn medications p. See your health care provider 4. See your health care provider immediately (or call 911) if a. You have a squeezing, tightness or heaviness in your chest, especially if the discomfort spreads to your shoulder, arm or jaw or is accompanied by shortness of breath, sweating, irregular or fast heartbeat or nausea. These could be symptoms of a heart attack. b. If your symptoms are triggered by exercise. c. If your pain localizes to your right side, especially if you also have nausea or fever d. If you throw up vomit that looks like black sand or coffee grounds. Or if your stool is black, deep red or looks like it has tar in it. These are symptoms of bleeding and need immediate attention. (Note: Pepto-Bismol or other medications with bismuth will turn your stool black. Iron supplements can also make the stool tarry.) e. If your pain is severe This was written by Jessie H. Ahroni, Ph.D., A.R.N.P., C.D.E., B.C.-A.D.M.

Adjustments - for those of you who didn't want to click on the link: How to Tell When You Are Perfectly Adjusted You are losing 1-2 pounds per week. If you are not losing 1-2 pounds per week: A. You may need an eating adjustment 1. Are you eating 60 grams of protein a day 2. Are you eating 25 grams of fiber 3. Are you avoiding all liquid calories a. Soup can be sign of “soft calorie syndrome” b. Alcohol contains a lot of calories – 7 calories per gram (1) It’s also a stomach irritant c. Fruit juice is just sugar water 4. Are you making healthy food choices from a wide variety of foods? a. Are you avoiding soft foods b. You can’t just eat what’s easy c. Cheese is glorified fat 5. Are you drinking 6-8 glasses of water a day between meals 6. Are you eating too much junk a. Chips, chocolate, nuts, ice cream, cookies and other highly processed junk foods are too calorically dense to be regular parts of a healthy diet. But don’t avoid them completely to the point where you feel deprived. b. Stay out of fast food places 7. Are you getting in two servings of calcium daily 8. Do you always eat the protein first 9. Then the vegetables or fruits a. Five servings a day b. Potatoes are NOT a vegetable 10. Is your portion size appropriate? a. Meat or fish (1) 3 ounces – the size of a deck of cards b. Vegetables (1) ½ cup – the size of your fist c. Starch (1) If you eat the protein and the vegetables first you don’t need much (2) Avoid: rice, potatoes, pasta 11. You might try avoiding artificial sweeteners a. Some people think that artificial sweeteners stimulate the appetite b. They are HUNDREDS of times sweeter than sugar c. They teach you to like things too sweet d. There is no evidence that people who use them are any thinner than people who don’t 12. Avoid most diet foods a. Real food usually tastes better b. Real food is more satisfying than low calorie substitutes c. When you are only eating a tiny bit the caloric savings is not that great (1) Use a teaspoon of real butter instead of a tablespoon of diet margarine (2) The body has no way to break down artificial fats a. They may go into permanent storage b. Some people think liposuction is the only way to remove hydrolyzed fats from the body B. You may need a behavior adjustment 1. Are you eating only when you are hungry? a. If you’re not sure drink 8 ounces of water and wait. 2. Are you eating three meals a day? a. With maybe 1 or 2 small snacks 3. Are you sitting down to eat? 4. Are you eating consciously? a. No distractions, turn off the TV, put the book or newspaper away, pay attention to your food and your companions 5. Are you eating slowly? a. Put the fork down between bites b. Take 20 to 30 minutes to finish a meal c. Taking longer might cause the pouch to begin emptying 6. Are you taking small bites? a. Tiny spoon, chopsticks, cocktail fork 7. Are you chewing well? 8. Are you drinking with your meals or too soon after your meals? a. Practice water loading between meals b. You won’t be thirsty if you are well hydrated before the meal 9. Are you stopping at the first sign of fullness? a. Sometimes it’s a whisper: not hungry, had enough b. Hard stop versus soft stop 10. Do not eat between meals. Stop grazing. 11. Do not eat when you are not hungry C. You may need an activity adjustment 1. Are you getting in 30 minutes of physical activity at least 3 times a week? a. Over and above what you would do in the usual course of your day b. Could you make it 4 or 5 times a week? c. Could you make it 45 or 60 minutes? 2. Are you taking advantage of opportunities to increase your physical activity? a. Taking the stairs instead of the elevators or escalators b. Walking on the escalators instead of riding c. Parking your car further away from the entrance d. Getting out of the car instead of using the drive through e. Getting off the bus one stop before your destination f. Washing you car by hand instead of the car wash g. Playing with your kids D. You may need an attitude adjustment 1. Are you committed to your weight loss journey? 2. Are you totally honest with yourself about how much you are eating and exercising? a. Log your food and activity on ww.fitday.com for 3 days 3. Are you using food inappropriately to deal with emotional issues? a. Have you identified what the emotions are that drive your eating? b. Can you think of more appropriate ways to deal with those emotions? c. Are you willing to seek help from a qualified counselor? 4. Are you attending and participating in support group meetings? 5. Have you drummed up some support from your family and friends? 6. Have you dealt with saboteurs realistically? 7. Do you have realistic expectations about the weight loss journey? 8. Are you still obsessing about food, weight, dieting, eating? a. Obsessive – compulsive thoughts (1) Obsess about something else b. Perfectionism (1) All or none, black and white thinking c. Patience with the pace of healthy weight loss 9. Are you acknowledging your successes with non-food rewards? 10. Have you learned how to take a compliment? 11. Are you giving up diet mentality? a. Stop weighing yourself several times a day or every day b. Stop dieting c. Stop depriving yourself d. Stop defining food as “good” and “bad” e. Stop rewarding and punishing yourself with food 12. How do you feel about all the changes taking place? E. You may need a band adjustment 1. You feel like you are making healthy food choices in appropriate portion sizes but getting hungry between meals? 2. You can still eat white bread, fibrous vegetables and large portions. 3. You are having to struggle to lose 4. You are gaining weight in spite of eating right, exercising and having a good mind set. F. You may need your band loosened 1. There are times when you can’t get fluids down 2. You are vomiting too much a. How much is too much? 3. Do you have frequent reflux or heartburn at night? a. Do not lie flat or bend over soon after eating b. Do not eat late at night or just before bedtime c. Rinse your pouch with a glass or water an hour before bedtime d. Certain foods or drinks are more likely to cause reflux: (1) Rich, spicy, fatty and fried foods (2) Chocolate (3) Caffeine (4) Alcohol (5) Some fruits and vegetables a. Oranges, lemons, tomatoes, peppers (6) Peppermint a. Baking soda toothpaste (7) Carbonated drinks e. Eat slowly and do not eat big meals f. If you smoke, quit smoking g. Reduce stress h. Exercise promotes digestion i. Raise the head of your bed j. Wear loose fitting clothing around your waist k. Stress increases reflux l. Take estrogen containing medications in the morning m. Avoid aspirin, Aleve and ibuprofen at bedtime (1) Tylenol is OK n. Take an antacid (Pepcid complete) before retiring o. Try other over-the-counter heartburn medications p. See your health care provider 4. See your health care provider immediately (or call 911) if a. You have a squeezing, tightness or heaviness in your chest, especially if the discomfort spreads to your shoulder, arm or jaw or is accompanied by shortness of breath, sweating, irregular or fast heartbeat or nausea. These could be symptoms of a heart attack. b. If your symptoms are triggered by exercise. c. If your pain localizes to your right side, especially if you also have nausea or fever d. If you throw up vomit that looks like black sand or coffee grounds. Or if your stool is black, deep red or looks like it has tar in it. These are symptoms of bleeding and need immediate attention. (Note: Pepto-Bismol or other medications with bismuth will turn your stool black. Iron supplements can also make the stool tarry.) e. If your pain is severe This was written by Jessie H. Ahroni, Ph.D., A.R.N.P., C.D.E., B.C.-A.D.M.

WOW Dini - you managed to get most everyone covered! You go girl! I'm impressed that you can take care of yourself, your toddler, and your all-consuming job and still have time for all of us! My motivation is suckin' right about now. I downed a good load of Doritos last night and I *still* have no interest in actual excersize (despite the Treadclimber we have and severl tapes I like). I make conscious efforts to play hard with the kids for at least an hour in the morning and an hour in the afternoon, but no reall dedicated excersize. Oh, I have the time, it's the motivation! I'm headed in for my 2nd fill on Oct. 3rd. I hope it will help...I've been just hangin' around the same weight for too long now. Yes, I know excersize will help, but I've got to work in baby steps here...maybe this attitude is what got me here in the first place? Hmmm...

Here are pictures of the cabin we stayed in - note Andrew's set up at the table! (BTW, this is what an Alaska cabin will look like on the inside, not fancy, but this was a NICE cabin!) And my ring...the diamond is now a full carat! (It was a 1/2 carat - still large for me.) Note the eye-searing gleam!

Here are pictures of the cabin we stayed in - note Andrew's set up at the table! (BTW, this is what an Alaska cabin will look like on the inside, not fancy, but this was a NICE cabin!) And my ring...the diamond is now a full carat! (It was a 1/2 carat - still large for me.) Note the eye-searing gleam!

Drews - yes, the have french onion soup...had it right after surgery. It's good, but they PILE cheese on top so it only amounts to about 1/2 cup of soup...you could ask that they not put ALL the cheese on...

Anita - I'm glad it all went well! Take care and heal fast!

Denise - I appreciate your comments! No, no more slaughtering for me...not for a while anyway. (Although it's good excersize!) There are some cruises that come to Nome, but they come from Europe - up and over if you know what I mean. If you're thinking about an Alaskan cruise, they normally just go Southeast to Haines or Anchorage...then you can take the train "in-land" to see Denali. I think Southeast (Ketchikan, Sitka, glaciers and the like) is all beautiful and would be a good trip. CC - I checked out your friends' website and I haven't stopped bawling in 20 minutes! I am so grateful for my healthy children! Thank you for sharing!

DH and I celebrated our 10th anniversary the other day. It was pretty low-key, as usual, and we had decided that we'd go out to dinner last night (Fri.) to celebrate. After a day of Andrew not being home and being out doing things with other people, even saying he was at work for a while...I was a little ticked off, but happy to be going to dinner. Then he comes home from getting the babysitter and tells me my car is making funky noises and we need to borrow our neighbor's truck. I was upset at his non-chalance about our only vehicle making funky noises than I was about using Matt's truck! But Andrew blew me off and off we went. Well, I knew something was up when he turned left instead of right and we headed out of town. I kept thinking that maybe we were going to someone's house for dinner (because he'd been complaining about being hungry for a while.). Then we turned onto a dirt road that leads to nowhere and I was a little confused...there aren't any friends or restaraunts out there... So we pull up to a cabin out in the middle of nowhere and he surprises me with a WHOLE NIGHT alone with him. He cooked steaks on the grill, borrowed table linens and candles and set the table all romantic, he even created a romantic playlist for the iPod! Then after dinner he came and sat next to me and surprised me (once again) with a new diamond for my wedding ring. It's not just a new diamond, but a HUGE diamond! He DOUBLED the size! I can totall poke an eye out now! After that we went out and sat in the hot tub for a couple of hours (took a while to get it good and hot) and the weather was just great...stars were out and everything. Torrential rains started after we went to bed and it was gloomy when we woke, but we had some hot chocolate and Andrew made omlets. It was really nice. Apprently, he also arranged for a helicopter ride, but since the weather was bad we have to wait for another day....too bad. Andrew thinks it all just went perfect. I know that MANY folks were involved in the planning of this (the ring took over 2 years to save for!) and I am VERY appreciative! When we got home we spent about 5 hrs butchering some moose we got from a friend. All this free meat, I don't know what to do with myself! I'm planning on just grinding it all so I'll be able to eat it (moose meat is known to be dry and chewy). It's been a LONG day!

Andrew and I celebrated our 10th anniversary the other day. It was pretty low-key, as usual, and we had decided that we'd go out to dinner last night (Fri.) to celebrate. After a day of Andrew not being home and being out doing things with other people, even saying he was at work for a while...I was a little ticked off, but happy to be going to dinner. Then he comes home from getting the babysitter and tells me my car is making funky noises and we need to borrow our neighbor's truck. I was upset at his non-chalance about our only vehicle making funky noises than I was about using Matt's truck! But Andrew blew me off and off we went. Well, I knew something was up when he turned left instead of right and we headed out of town. I kept thinking that maybe we were going to someone's house for dinner (because he'd been complaining about being hungry for a while.). Then we turned onto a dirt road that leads to nowhere and I was a little confused...there aren't any friends or restaraunts out there... So we pull up to a cabin out in the middle of nowhere and he surprises me with a WHOLE NIGHT alone with him. He cooked steaks on the grill, borrowed table linens and candles and set the table all romantic, he even created a romantic playlist for the iPod! Then after dinner he came and sat next to me and surprised me (once again) with a new diamond for my wedding ring. It's not just a new diamond, but a HUGE diamond! He DOUBLED the size! I can totall poke an eye out now! After that we went out and sat in the hot tub for a couple of hours (took a while to get it good and hot) and the weather was just great...stars were out and everything. Torrential rains started after we went to bed and it was gloomy when we woke, but we had some hot chocolate and Andrew made omlets. It was really nice. Apprently, he also arranged for a helicopter ride, but since the weather was bad we have to wait for another day....too bad. Andrew thinks it all just went perfect. I know that MANY folks were involved in the planning of this (the ring took over 2 years to save for!) and I am VERY appreciative! When we got home we spent about 5 hrs butchering some moose we got from a friend. All this free meat, I don't know what to do with myself! I'm planning on just grinding it all so I'll be able to eat it (moose meat is known to be dry and chewy). It's been a LONG day!

want2bmeagain and rosey - When I talked w/ Paula about the pre-op diet she said that I should just try to follow the Atkins diet to lose some weight quick and shrink my liver before surgery. I told her that I'd never done Atkins so I didn't know much about it other than eating a lot of meat, so I just asked for the amount of carbs I SHOULDN'T go over each day....I tend to eat a lot of grilled meat and veggies anyway so this wasn't too much of a stretch for me. Paula said to keep under 30 carbs a day. I was supposed to do the diet for 10 days, but I decided to give it a full 2 weeks...it's a surgery safety issue for me and, besides, if I can't do a freakin' diet for two weeks, what the heck am I going to do with the band? Anyway, good luck to you two!

Phyll - this totally sucks for you...you could always play the "ditzy blonde spouse thing" that I do sometimes and it works EVERYTIME. Here's what you do...have your DH call and act like HE was supposed to call because you are otherwise busy. Make sure he sounds a little stupid, doesn't know what he's talking about, but needs to get it done...a southern accent may even help since he's a guy and chicks dig it. Have him say something like, "I need to schedule a fill, is that what you call it?, for my wife who's just soooo busy today. She made it sound so important and I really need to do this for her. Can you maybe help me out? ..... no, no, I'll wait for whomever schedules the appointments, I'm out and about today and I promised my little peach that I'd get this done for her". Sounds silly, but works EVERY TIME! Good luck sister! BTW - you're so funny with the tupperware in your scooter!!! I actually have this vision of you...especially your face with the "I'm going to get you back for this" look! Live it up! I, on the other hand, would've set up my grill on the back of my pickup in their parking lot and had myself some grilled halibut, shrimp, crab, etc. !!