tizen33

I was reading through the journals the other day and there is a person there who has had a difficult journey with the band. Their journal is probably the only place where they can truthfully express their weaknesses, insecurities, pitfalls, etc. I personally didn't read her journal for a while because it was so depressing. I finally started reading her journal again and left a comment for her that offered some ideas/advice and support and understanding. I haven't read any of the comments previous to mine. But the other day I saw someone had left her a comment and decided to check it out. And the person came off as pretty damn insensitive boarding on rude. This gal is having a hard enough time. She admits what she's doing wrong. She is just using her journal as a voice. I don't think she's out there seeking sympathy. But she should be able to honestly express herself in her journal without receiving comments that will only make her feel worse. I'm all for being honest and letting people know when they are off track. (She already acknowledges this) I believe these sentiments can be expressed in a tactful way that offers support This journey is hard enough without having a co-bandster tell you they have no sympathy for where you are at in your journey. I have sympathy for anyone who is addicted to food and battles not only that but the judgements of society because of the fat a** we get because of our love of food. Alright- I'd better stop. I could go on and on. Aren't we here to support each other? ~Tina

I also got really hungry on the liquid phase after being banded. My doctor defined liquids as anything I could drink through a straw. Maybe make some fruit smoothies in your blender? I even blended up some Mexican casserole I made one night with some milk. Before experiencing the hunger I was having I would have thought it sounded disgusting but it was wonderful!!! I've also heard people talk about blending up soups. Maybe ask your doctor if the straw rule works for defining liquids then you can have more options. Otherwise the two weeks will be over before you know it. It will get better!! Take care. ~Tina

Just wanted to thank those of you who've given me some nice comments. It's really appreciated. It's amazing that just last week I was kind of in a funk and thinking that somehow this (the lap band) wouldn't work for me, and now I am totally re-inspired. If I didn't have the band I would have started the eating funk that got me up to 295lbs. But the band makes it to where I just can't eat what I used to. I get full very quickly. And since I really don't want to PB (productive burp) I stop eating when I feel full. I did have some chocolate cake last week. I started to beat myself up over it but that line of thinking has just got to change. We can't eat perfect all of the time. As long as I'm not eating cake or other high calorie/high fat foods everyday. Luckily I'm not a big sweet person. Once every couple of months usually does me good. I thought that I'd post what I ate today to give an idea of how my diet has changed since started the soft food stage. 8am 1/4 c. oatmeal 2 oz nonfat milk 2 Tbs sugar free maple syrup 10am 3oz of light tuna w/ 1 Tbs mayo 1pm 1 scoop whey protein powder 4 oz nonfat milk 5pm 3oz hamburger pattie (pureed) 2 Tbs brown gravy 2 mushrooms (all of this blended together) 2 Tbs. mashed potatoes I at half of this at 5 and the other half around 7pm 9pm sugar free fudge bar So my total caloric intake was 850 calories and 83 grams of protein. It's so amazing that I am full on this amount of food. Oh- and I did ride my bike today for 30 minutes. Goodnight everyone! Take care.

Just wanted to thank those of you who've given me some nice comments. It's really appreciated. It's amazing that just last week I was kind of in a funk and thinking that somehow this (the lap band) wouldn't work for me, and now I am totally re-inspired. If I didn't have the band I would have started the eating funk that got me up to 295lbs. But the band makes it to where I just can't eat what I used to. I get full very quickly. And since I really don't want to PB (productive burp) I stop eating when I feel full. I did have some chocolate cake last week. I started to beat myself up over it but that line of thinking has just got to change. We can't eat perfect all of the time. As long as I'm not eating cake or other high calorie/high fat foods everyday. Luckily I'm not a big sweet person. Once every couple of months usually does me good. I thought that I'd post what I ate today to give an idea of how my diet has changed since started the soft food stage. 8am 1/4 c. oatmeal 2 oz nonfat milk 2 Tbs sugar free maple syrup 10am 3oz of light tuna w/ 1 Tbs mayo 1pm 1 scoop whey protein powder 4 oz nonfat milk 5pm 3oz hamburger pattie (pureed) 2 Tbs brown gravy 2 mushrooms (all of this blended together) 2 Tbs. mashed potatoes I at half of this at 5 and the other half around 7pm 9pm sugar free fudge bar So my total caloric intake was 850 calories and 83 grams of protein. It's so amazing that I am full on this amount of food. Oh- and I did ride my bike today for 30 minutes. Goodnight everyone! Take care.

I am in the 250s today. I weighed this a.m. and weighed 259. I am down 11 lbs since the surgery 3 1/2 weeks ago and 36lbs total. I have been exercising daily. Only for a 1/2 hour on the stationary bike but it is a workout. Anyway things are good. Until next time....

I am in the 250s today. I weighed this a.m. and weighed 259. I am down 11 lbs since the surgery 3 1/2 weeks ago and 36lbs total. I have been exercising daily. Only for a 1/2 hour on the stationary bike but it is a workout. Anyway things are good. Until next time....

Start weight: 295 day of operation: 270 3 weeks post-op: 261 I had my first doc. appointment since getting banded today. My three week check-up. Everything is fine. I have lost 9lbs since getting banded. I am happy to get to move onto pureed foods. I had pureed a few times this last week and told the doc. He said that it was okay because I didn't have it until after the second week. I'm still ready to chew my own food but at least I get real food now. I've exercised all but two days so far this month (today being one of them). I don't have to keep track of my diet journal except for 1 week prior to my appointments. I haven't decided if I'm going to do it anyway or not. I probably will once I start on all real food. Hope everyone out there is doing good! Take care!

Start weight: 295 day of operation: 270 3 weeks post-op: 261 I had my first doc. appointment since getting banded today. My three week check-up. Everything is fine. I have lost 9lbs since getting banded. I am happy to get to move onto pureed foods. I had pureed a few times this last week and told the doc. He said that it was okay because I didn't have it until after the second week. I'm still ready to chew my own food but at least I get real food now. I've exercised all but two days so far this month (today being one of them). I don't have to keep track of my diet journal except for 1 week prior to my appointments. I haven't decided if I'm going to do it anyway or not. I probably will once I start on all real food. Hope everyone out there is doing good! Take care!

I haven't wrote for a couple of days. Not that I've been that busy, I've just not been up to it. Things are okay. I am so ready to just be able to eat food and just eat less. I am sick of just drinking my meals. My caloric intake went up beyond what it has befor the past two days (not including today). I still consumed less than 1000 calories on those days but I had some good liquid/pureed food. I had a small (about 1/4 cup) of this Mexican casserole one day. It was really good. And yesterday I made my hubby seafood alfredo pasta. I had about 1/4 cup of the sauce. It had minced crab in it and was soooo good. It just made me want food more. Not a lot of food, just real food. Just a couple more days then my diet can increase. I didn't exercise yesterday but today my hubby and I took our baby on a walk down to our towns little park. We walked for a little over a half hour. It was a beautiful day. I consumed 640 calories today: 6:00am 2 scoops whey protein shake mix 8oz nonfat milk 11:00am 8oz chicken broth 1/4 cup instant mashed potato's in it 3:00pm 1 can ready to drink slimfast 6:00pm Dannon light and fit smoothie That's it that's all for today!! Take care all!!

I haven't wrote for a couple of days. Not that I've been that busy, I've just not been up to it. Things are okay. I am so ready to just be able to eat food and just eat less. I am sick of just drinking my meals. My caloric intake went up beyond what it has befor the past two days (not including today). I still consumed less than 1000 calories on those days but I had some good liquid/pureed food. I had a small (about 1/4 cup) of this Mexican casserole one day. It was really good. And yesterday I made my hubby seafood alfredo pasta. I had about 1/4 cup of the sauce. It had minced crab in it and was soooo good. It just made me want food more. Not a lot of food, just real food. Just a couple more days then my diet can increase. I didn't exercise yesterday but today my hubby and I took our baby on a walk down to our towns little park. We walked for a little over a half hour. It was a beautiful day. I consumed 640 calories today: 6:00am 2 scoops whey protein shake mix 8oz nonfat milk 11:00am 8oz chicken broth 1/4 cup instant mashed potato's in it 3:00pm 1 can ready to drink slimfast 6:00pm Dannon light and fit smoothie That's it that's all for today!! Take care all!!

I think I may have over shot my weight loss goal for Thanksgiving. I want to drop 13lbs in three weeks. Granted one of those weeks I'm still on the liquid diet and the other two I'm on mushies but that's a lot of weight. I thought for some reason I had one more week in there. Well, we'll see how it goes. I am exercising daily again at 30 minutes a pop. Maybe that's why my hunger kicked up a notch today. For the first time since being banded I was really hungry. So I added peanut butter to my last protein shake (vanilla flavor) of the day. It was soooo good. It tasted like the inside of a reeses peanut butter cup to me. 6 weeks ago it probably would've tasted like crap to me but since I haven't had any real food for so long it was quite a tasty treat. It did up my calories for the day. But I am still consuming less than I have since I was probably like 8 years old. So in summary I consumed 940 calories and rode my bike for 30 minutes.

I think I may have over shot my weight loss goal for Thanksgiving. I want to drop 13lbs in three weeks. Granted one of those weeks I'm still on the liquid diet and the other two I'm on mushies but that's a lot of weight. I thought for some reason I had one more week in there. Well, we'll see how it goes. I am exercising daily again at 30 minutes a pop. Maybe that's why my hunger kicked up a notch today. For the first time since being banded I was really hungry. So I added peanut butter to my last protein shake (vanilla flavor) of the day. It was soooo good. It tasted like the inside of a reeses peanut butter cup to me. 6 weeks ago it probably would've tasted like crap to me but since I haven't had any real food for so long it was quite a tasty treat. It did up my calories for the day. But I am still consuming less than I have since I was probably like 8 years old. So in summary I consumed 940 calories and rode my bike for 30 minutes.

Hi Carol- I've been reading the journal section longer than I've been writing in it. I've been reading your entries for a while now. I've never read any of the comments you've gotten before so I don't know if I'll be repeating what anyone else has said befor. Anyway- Have you tried attending a local support group? I've only gone to mine once. We only have one monthly so I havn't gone since I've been banded (I'm 2 weeks post-op). A lot of the gals there the night that I went had feedback to situtations such as yours. The main one is going to a nutritionist and following the diet they give you. Other than that, you have lost some weight... that's better than gaining right? And let's say you stay the same for the next year but then you get motivated and drop 10 or 20 more pounds and the band helps you keep it off. And if this senario keeps up then eventually you will get closer and closer to whatever your goal is. It may take a long time but it would be working. Food addiction is a hard thing. We can't just quit. We have to eat to survive. It's unfortunate for those of us who love food and use food inappropriately (for something other than just nutrition). Keep talking to your doctor... maybe see a nutritionist... seek a local support group... maybe a personal counsler to help you through this. Try not to beat yourself up too much. We are all only human. Take care of yourself. I hope things get better. ~Tina

Start weight: 295 surgery weight: 270 2 weeks post-op: 263 total loss so far: 32lbs Well, I am down 3 more lbs this week. My BMI has dropped 5 points since beginning the pre-op diet. Amazing really. My goal is to be down to 250 by Thanksgiving. I haven't weight below that for about 3 years and then that was only because I got down to 247. Before that it's been about 6 years since my lowest weight which was right around 235. So, It will be so exciting to get below 235. I haven't been below that since 1998. It seems like there is so far to go. And there is. But each day I am losing little by little instead of gaining. I am so happy to be going in the right direction. Yesterday I consumed 784 calories. I'll probably update more tonight. It's later.... I've challenged myself to work out between 19-23 times this month for at least a half hour each time. I rode my bike for 30 minutes. I consumed 740 calories today.

Start weight: 295 surgery weight: 270 2 weeks post-op: 263 total loss so far: 32lbs Well, I am down 3 more lbs this week. My BMI has dropped 5 points since beginning the pre-op diet. Amazing really. My goal is to be down to 250 by Thanksgiving. I haven't weight below that for about 3 years and then that was only because I got down to 247. Before that it's been about 6 years since my lowest weight which was right around 235. So, It will be so exciting to get below 235. I haven't been below that since 1998. It seems like there is so far to go. And there is. But each day I am losing little by little instead of gaining. I am so happy to be going in the right direction. Yesterday I consumed 784 calories. I'll probably update more tonight. It's later.... I've challenged myself to work out between 19-23 times this month for at least a half hour each time. I rode my bike for 30 minutes. I consumed 740 calories today.

Today was a better day. The morning ritual of getting on the scale had better results. I won't post what they were until Thursday, which is my weigh-in day. But it makes me feel better. I am ready to be off of liquids. 8 more days to go. Then I'm on mushies for at least three weeks. My caloric intake can go up a bit then. I'm pretty sure my body is freaking out a bit from the lack of calories for the past 6 weeks. I've tried to up my intake to closer to 800 a day. I'm not hungry. I miss eating though. Oh- I made my hubby chicken fried steak tonight with country gravy and had a couple of spoonfuls of the gravy. YUM!! I make a mean homemade country gravy. Good thing I only make any kind of gravy every couple of months. It could be addicting. I am so greatful to have the band. I am also greatful that I am in the mind space to work with it. As I've stated befor I don't ever expect to be super skinny but I will be healthy again. Sometimes I feel impatient and wish it was instantanious. But getting my butt this big didn't happen overnight so I must be patient. I'm still having trouble drinking the amount of water I'm suposed to. I've drank around 30oz so far tonight and am gonna try to get another 12-16oz down befor I go to bed. I consumed 760 calories today. Goodnight!

Today was a better day. The morning ritual of getting on the scale had better results. I won't post what they were until Thursday, which is my weigh-in day. But it makes me feel better. I am ready to be off of liquids. 8 more days to go. Then I'm on mushies for at least three weeks. My caloric intake can go up a bit then. I'm pretty sure my body is freaking out a bit from the lack of calories for the past 6 weeks. I've tried to up my intake to closer to 800 a day. I'm not hungry. I miss eating though. Oh- I made my hubby chicken fried steak tonight with country gravy and had a couple of spoonfuls of the gravy. YUM!! I make a mean homemade country gravy. Good thing I only make any kind of gravy every couple of months. It could be addicting. I am so greatful to have the band. I am also greatful that I am in the mind space to work with it. As I've stated befor I don't ever expect to be super skinny but I will be healthy again. Sometimes I feel impatient and wish it was instantanious. But getting my butt this big didn't happen overnight so I must be patient. I'm still having trouble drinking the amount of water I'm suposed to. I've drank around 30oz so far tonight and am gonna try to get another 12-16oz down befor I go to bed. I consumed 760 calories today. Goodnight!

Today was kind of a bummer day. Three days in a row and the scale hasn't moved. I know I shouldn't weigh everyday but I am a slave to the scale. It just seems that if I'm only drinking 700 calories or less a day that I should lose weight even if my body is in some sort of starvation mode. I am getting my protein. Usually I get right around 70grams of protein a day. I could drink more water. I guess I'll make that my goal for now. To get at least 48oz preferably 64oz of water a day. I think I strained something in my tummy yesterday. We were trying to load a couple of our steers up to go to the butcher and I yanked on this gate that was stuck in some mud a couple of times befor I realized it probably wasn't a good idea. Today I have pain on the center left side of my upper abdomen. I haven't taken any pain for it. I want to be able to feel exactly what's going on in case it gets worse and needs some kind of attention. I need to remember to take it easy. So needless to say I didn't ride my bike today. I think I'm gonna wait one more week or so. I had started riding really slow and only for 10 minutes at a time. Now I want to wait until this new pain goes away. Calories today: 645 but I'll probably have some broth befor bed. Take care all!

Today was kind of a bummer day. Three days in a row and the scale hasn't moved. I know I shouldn't weigh everyday but I am a slave to the scale. It just seems that if I'm only drinking 700 calories or less a day that I should lose weight even if my body is in some sort of starvation mode. I am getting my protein. Usually I get right around 70grams of protein a day. I could drink more water. I guess I'll make that my goal for now. To get at least 48oz preferably 64oz of water a day. I think I strained something in my tummy yesterday. We were trying to load a couple of our steers up to go to the butcher and I yanked on this gate that was stuck in some mud a couple of times befor I realized it probably wasn't a good idea. Today I have pain on the center left side of my upper abdomen. I haven't taken any pain for it. I want to be able to feel exactly what's going on in case it gets worse and needs some kind of attention. I need to remember to take it easy. So needless to say I didn't ride my bike today. I think I'm gonna wait one more week or so. I had started riding really slow and only for 10 minutes at a time. Now I want to wait until this new pain goes away. Calories today: 645 but I'll probably have some broth befor bed. Take care all!

Not much to say today. Incisions are looking good. I had no stiches- they just glued them back together. I still have a couple of small scabs. I feel good. I'm really greatful I never had to deal with any of the gas that a lot of bandsters talk about. I have been able to pick up my 1 yr old since day 5 post-op. I do it very carefully only from positions were I'm using mostly my arm strength only. Today I consumed a few more calories. Around 700. I haven't done a total yet so I don't have an exact number. Until next time....

Not much to say today. Incisions are looking good. I had no stiches- they just glued them back together. I still have a couple of small scabs. I feel good. I'm really greatful I never had to deal with any of the gas that a lot of bandsters talk about. I have been able to pick up my 1 yr old since day 5 post-op. I do it very carefully only from positions were I'm using mostly my arm strength only. Today I consumed a few more calories. Around 700. I haven't done a total yet so I don't have an exact number. Until next time....

Well it is the 28th and not the 27th as I posted but this is my journal entry for yesterday. I could not get logged onto LBT. I assume from the lack of journal entries I wasn't the only one? Anyway, yesterday was probably my hardest day since the surgery. I really wanted food. I haven't eaten for close to a month now with the exception of the chalupa I had after losing my 25 lbs 2 days befor surgery. And I just wanted something, anything. But I made it through the day. I didn't get any exercise in. I was just lazy I guess. I didn't make it a priority. I consumed 600 calories. I am ready for November 8th to be here. That is my first post-op appt and when I'll be allowed to go on mushies. I would just LOVE a scrambled egg! I will write today's entry later. Until then..........

Well it is the 28th and not the 27th as I posted but this is my journal entry for yesterday. I could not get logged onto LBT. I assume from the lack of journal entries I wasn't the only one? Anyway, yesterday was probably my hardest day since the surgery. I really wanted food. I haven't eaten for close to a month now with the exception of the chalupa I had after losing my 25 lbs 2 days befor surgery. And I just wanted something, anything. But I made it through the day. I didn't get any exercise in. I was just lazy I guess. I didn't make it a priority. I consumed 600 calories. I am ready for November 8th to be here. That is my first post-op appt and when I'll be allowed to go on mushies. I would just LOVE a scrambled egg! I will write today's entry later. Until then..........

I am so glad to have my baby back. Grandma and Grandpa brought her back a little after 4pm this afternoon. I miss her so much when she is gone even for just a day. She really is the light of my life. She has started walking everywhere... finally. She was a late walker. She's been cruising since right around 12 mos. but it has taken her until now 4 months later to start really walking independently. I wasn't in a real hurry for her to walk (she's getting harder to catch ):confused: but I was gonna start worrying if it didn't happen in the next couple of months. Now I can relax and just enjoy her toddling around. Today was good. I've been really good at maintaining the house. I've used this time off from work and reorganized everything. I am at much more peace when my house is in order. Everything looks so nice. I rode my bike for 10 minutes and consumed 560 calories. Goodnight all!

I am so glad to have my baby back. Grandma and Grandpa brought her back a little after 4pm this afternoon. I miss her so much when she is gone even for just a day. She really is the light of my life. She has started walking everywhere... finally. She was a late walker. She's been cruising since right around 12 mos. but it has taken her until now 4 months later to start really walking independently. I wasn't in a real hurry for her to walk (she's getting harder to catch ):girl_hug: but I was gonna start worrying if it didn't happen in the next couple of months. Now I can relax and just enjoy her toddling around. Today was good. I've been really good at maintaining the house. I've used this time off from work and reorganized everything. I am at much more peace when my house is in order. Everything looks so nice. I rode my bike for 10 minutes and consumed 560 calories. Goodnight all!