anjul19

The mini-burger with a slice of reduced-fat cheese, and some light mayo (I am one of those un-Americans who don't like ketchup!) was FANTASTIC! Of course I had a few thin slices of pickle on the side! No problems going down or staying down either! The ground beef was 93% lean, so not too bad for me! Thanks for the input! I am off to go biking now...and then maybe a pedicure! I LOVE SATURDAYS! Everyone, ENJOY your weekends!:whoo:

I liked that better IBW web-site...it made me feel right on target as it said 198 and I was thinking 200! Thanks legster! Yea, it is sweet but I just don't want it to backfire! He has been so wonderfully supportive & is losing weight himself since I am not cooking up a storm as usual, but I know it is different with us...we aren't "bonding" over food as in the past. Sometimes it's tense. Plus I am dealing with a whole lot of drama & crap at work...I used to come home, have cocktails & cook and eat my way through it! I have found different outlets, but it sure is taking time to get used to the "new" Julie! You guys all help though!! Thanks tons!

Yea for you Melissa...I can't wait for my 2nd fill & hopefully I will feel some of that! Keep on lovin' it! About goals~my doc hasn't given me one, and I always was shooting for 200 (a 110 pound loss). I wonder what is really my IDEAL weight? I just want to feel healthy & look GOOD! Has anyone eaten a hamburger since their fill? My DH is out there on the BBQ, and he really wants me to try a mini-bunless burger--for some reason I am really apprehensive about it?? Feedback?

Ragdoll, I too am missing & mourning food as I "used to know it". It was/is such a big part of my life that it is no wonder it's sad. I am not sure how we are supposed to deal with this though. No one prepared me for "missing" food! I don't know how to cope either, but I do know none of us are "losers"...

I actually love drinking cold water, but since the surgery I find that I like a bottle of water, a bottle of Crystal Light, and then repeating it throughout the day. For some reason, the switching is more thirst-satisfying and feels like I am having a "treat"! The Cherry Pomegranate in the to-go packets is simply DELICIOUS!

Hoosier...GREAT job with all of the exercise! How impressive! I admire you exercising at night, I just can't muster up any motivation to do much more than walking around the neighborhood in the PM. I am a morning person. Lizrbit...don't stress too much, you will conquer all of the demons! Just think of the 5 days left as a mini-ticker right back to where you need to be! Hang in there! My DH got a bike the other day so he could ride with me...how sweet! We went for 6.5 miles yesterday & he felt as good as I did afterwards! It was fun to do something together! Has anyone found that drinking alot has made any of the "hunger" go away? I know it hasn't done anything for me...but I keep drinking! And my damn scale is still stuck!

I also LOVE the raspberry lemonade!

Melissa--thanks for the response. Don't stress the scale not moving...you are still doing fantastic! If we can all just get to the 1-2 pound loss per week, do you think that will make us happy? I wonder if I will be satisfied with that...my personality is that I wish this weight loss success to happen overnight. I know that is not reality & I am working on my psyche! Boy, I guess I really don't want to be at work...I am sitting here reading the forum constantly! Bad girl!! Happy Friday!

Metal--if you add Crystal Light to-go packets to a .5L bottle of water at least the flavor is different and it goes down a little bit better! The cherry pomegranate is YUMMY! Keep exercising everyone! WAY TO GO A-MAY-ZING BANDSTERS!!

I got 1.5 cc's yesterday...and it wasn't bad at all despite me being super scared! I was really surprised because my doctor told me to eat as I have been--no liquids or mushies, right back to solid food! That made me happy! Glad to hear people are finding out that they need more fill & getting it taken care of. Do you really feel FULL? Or is it a mental feeling? Will I know when to stop eating? And how?

Sandra~I am so jealous about the popcorn...I haven't tried any since the surgery & it is my all-time favorite food! Since you were okay eating it, I am going to try it the next time I see a movie! I ate my other favorites yesterday, lobster tail & grilled shrimp! I was shocked that I only ate one tail & two shrimp and I was satisfied! YAY! That is about a third of what I normally would've consumed! I go see my surgeon in a few hours...pray that he fills me! I want to continue on my journey & the restriction will certainly help me along! Take care everyone!

My fellow 5/22/07'ers jsrico and sjrgilman...I was banded at 310 pounds, and I am almost 5'10" . Thanks for the positive comments...I NEED THOSE! I am a totally insecure person, so the more encouragement I get the better I believe I will do! You guys are on target too! Way to go!! :clap2: MPatrizzi-it is hard to change our mental thinking about this weight loss, but maybe it is worth a shot--try eating more protein for the calories & let your body burn stored carbs! The pounds that have come off me seem to mostly be through my face & upper body, however I had hoped for them to be gone from my mid-section! I am shooting for 200 as a goal, but haven't gotten the surgeon' s goal...hopefully I am not too off. I sometimes feel that I should shoot for lower, but honestly I don't want to be a really thin person, nor do I want to look un-proportioned. There is a woman at my agency who was banded last fall *(who helped talk me into it!) and she has gotten too skinny so that her head looks totally huge compared to her skinny body-almost alien-like. That may sound like jealousy, but from the bottom of my heart is isn't. Is this just my fear of failure??

I'm a May bandster without a fill too...:think And I know that I NEED one! I am scheduled to see my surgeon on Thursday, but it's not a guarantee for a fill according to his Nurse Practioner. I can EAT, and then EAT some more! I haven't put any weight on, however I am not losing as I had been. And dammit, I am hungry--not just the mental kind, but the deep tummy growls kind. :hungry: Metal--you are not alone! And it's my TOM too, double the curses!! MPatrizzi--good for you not to feel like you need the restriction. My nutrition clinic did say that sometimes you need to "up" your intake to lose...so maybe taking in a few more calories will boost the metabolism & make that scale MOVE! I guess we just have to hang in there! I don't want to ruin the hard work that I have accomplished so far! Keep on trying!

Now I live in a tiny lake community called Lake Carmel, NY...beautiful little (and yes, I stress the LITTLE) town. Moved here to be with my DH and LOVE it now! Came from Connecticut & Wisconsin.

First day of July...first notch on the challenge completed! I wasn't sure about all that water, but it went down good! And the exercise felt good too! If I add a Crystal Light To-Go packet into a bottle of water, does that still count as water? Hope you all are having a wonderful Sunday afternoon!

No dreams that I remember! Or nightmares as of yet... I have had a beer, margarita & martini in the last few weeks...my doctor says it is fine to imbibe in moderation. I will tell you though that my hubby is excited that I am a "cheap" date all of a sudden...boy, it hits you hard! The beer tasted so damn good! I took baby sips to eliminate some of the fizziness! I haven't tried wine which is supposedly the easiest for lap-banders to tolerate. Melissa--are you not allowed any alcohol?

I'm in for the exercise/water challenge!! All of us CAN do it! And we will! Go May Bandsters!

Count me in for an exercise challenge...I need some motivation too! I made my hubby go out & play paddle ball yesterday, I think he had fun so maybe we'll continue to do that a few times a week. Speaking of exercise, has anyone seen the "bean" informerical on TV? Does anyone have it? Does it work? My abs are what I need to work on & it looked like it might be a good one?!?! I just ate breakfast, and it was the most delicious tasting food that I have had since the surgery! Used to be on Sundays that I would fix a big breakfast, but today I only made a mere portion for myself and I am TOTALLY satisfied! So happy that I can eat "normal" foods! Glad to hear everyone is still hanging tough...this waiting for a fill is definitely a test! I am not scheduled until July 6th, boy I don't want to slide backwards now! Have a good day!

Hi Everyone, I, too, am feeling bad. I can swallow & tolerate just about anything...with no ill effects. I have been trying to stick to proteins first, but can't seem to get control of my very strong instinct to put anything in my mouth. I do feel full after eating much less than before, thank goodness! Today I even ate nuts and ice cream with no problem though! I am feeling GUILT for eating, ANGER at myself, FEAR of what to expect and honestly just DOWN on myself! But, my feelings don't stop me from reaching for the food. Obviously I have a much deeper-rooted issue than I thought. In my heart & my mind I know I should be sticking to the mushies...but I haven't been and I am kinda losing my mind over this. Help...:help:

Oh yea, and if you are on the pureed stage you can blenderize the soup first! Still tastes the same!

Hi Everyone~ My local support group suggested this meal idea--it's rather filling (and the full feeling lasts awhile!) Progresso Vegetable Lentil soup--1/2 can & 1/4 cup part-skim ricotta cheese. If you put a little ricotta on the spoon & then the soup it kind of melts into the soup making it creamier. In total for that serving there are 240 calories & 17 grams of protein! I had it yesterday for lunch...and it lasted with me for a good 4 hours before I got the hunger growls back! Hope this helps somebody!

I am so right there with you guys that are HUNGRY & wanting your first fill! I am on the mushie stage, but have had NO problem eating anything I try which is SCARY! I am really trying to work on the psyche and realize that a major part of the hunger is in my head...but it's a really slow process and I am not winning! The scale isn't moving much but I know it is because I am probably eating too much--I have kept it between 1000-1200 calories, and I am walking daily. My fill isn't until 7/6/07, 3 more weeks! Aaargh!! Did the May bandsters set a June challenge? We need to really be there for one another & support each other...I will be there for anyone that needs to vent! Hang in there band-friends!! And, GREAT job everyone!!

Yes, the damn thing is still there! Although it isn't all of the time! I feel it mostly after I am done eating/drinking something. If you get an answer from your PCP I'd LOVE to know what it is! I am three weeks out as of tomorrow...hard to believe! Besides the throat, how are you doing?

I still feel it at times, almost like there is something back there! If you get an answer from your PCP I'd love to know what it is! I am three weeks out as of tomorrow, hard to believe! How are you doing besides the throat thing?

Help me out WasaBubbleButt--what do slime & PB mean, or what are they exactly?