salsa1877

I would call your doctor. If your esophagus is spasming it might mean you are way too tight.

Actually not being able to get water down isn't all that weird. A lot of people have that. Try finding some low calorie juices (diet ocean spray, diet V8 splash, or another "diet" juice) and drink those. They still count as water! Also, try adding Crystal Light...for some people that helps as well.

Snacks are the hardest thing for me! Snack foods tend to make me want to binge. I had Kashi Crackers once and, I ended up throwing over half of them in the garbage because I kept having the urge to go back and eat more and more and more. So what I do for my snacks now is just have "mini" meals. I know..laugh...like our meals are not mini enough! :incazzato: To be honest when I ws in the losing phase, I didn't really have a morning snack. I ate at 6:30, 10:30, 2:30 and 5:30: Breakfast, lunch, snack dinner. That was just how my schedule worked. Now it is a bit tougher because my schedule doesn't work that way and because I am on maintenance and have to get to 1800 calories a day. Now I feel like I am eating all the time. But here are a few things that I have done. 1. LF String cheese 2. Low cal yogurt with Kashi GoLean Cereal 3. WASA crackers with LF cream cheese (These might be too difficult with a good fill) 4. Johnsonville or Jenny-o (freddy's here has them) turkey sausages (they are with the hot dogs) 5. Nuts (almonds or walnuts) If you can afford the calories. 6. Refried Beans and 1 crunchy taco shell (the taco shell has 50 cals) 7. Fruit (stawberries, melon, frozen berries) if you need more protein...add some of the Kashi GoLean Cereal. Stay away from Bananas...major sliming issues for me! 8. Veggies and hummus (though I don' like this!) If anyone else can come up with some examples that would be great. LIke I said earlier...snacks are the hardest part for me. I ate a pure Protein Bar everyday! I like routine! Now that I am on maintenance I can switch it up a bit...though I usually have a sandwich made from sara lee ligth bread with 2 pieces of FF cheese and some tomatoes. Pretty much that every day. If you are too tight...stay away from that bread! Hope this helped. Karri

44 is reasonable. Even when I was too tight I never had a problem with liquids. Being too tight is miserable. I am glad that you can still get food and liquids down. The one bandster rule I never seemed to follow very well was chewing. However since I was always on the loose side it didn't seem to cause me too many problems. It does now that I am unfilled! Even without a fill the band does still provide some restriction andI have slimed and pb'd more since being unfilled then I did when I was filled. I figure it was because I was more careful then!:incazzato: Watch out for soft bread. I can just finally eat it now. Rice however...still can't do it! Let me know if there is anything else I can do for you. Karri

From the research that I have read, 32 oz is the minimum we should get everyday. We get a lot of water from our food. If you eat any fruits or vegetables...it is mostly water! I would make sure to drink 1 bottle of water during your workout to make sure that you stay hydrated. I think it is ABSOLUTLY ABSURD when people don't count coffee, tea, or juices as water. If they aren't water then my ENTIRE lesson on solutions in chemistry is a total waste of time teaching!!! I never get to 64 oz of water EXCEPT on my long run days (10+ miles). If you are working out in hot weather or for very LONG periods of time you need to increase your water intake, but low impact for 30 minutes a day...you could get 1 bottle of water in before/during/after the workout. Now this is not medical advice. YOur doctor will most likely tell you to get in the water. If you find that you are getting headaches or can't seem to get through your workout then drink water. However, my doctor has never once asked me how much water I consume.

Janet - A good PS will make sure you are not in pain. Mine is giving me a pain pump which constantly delievers a numbing medication to the muscle area for 48 hours after the surgery. Then I am to be on pain meds (liquid vicoden) every 4 hours for a week. I should be coherent!! Her belief is that you heal better when you are in less pain because your body is not stressed. I need some of that pain med NOW. I just did 7 miles. I think I ran about 5 of the miles. I am having problems with hyperventilating and it is RUINING my workouts. Tomorrow is my LOOOOOOOONNNNGGG run and I hope that it is better than it was today. Off to ice my legs then we are gong to see KungFu Panda today. Denise- Glad to hear that you are home and safe.

Did a 7mile run/walk this monring. So far 16 miles this week. I have a 12 miler (11 mile run/1 mile walk planned for tomorrow). I hope I can make it. I have been having a bad time with hyperventilating the last week or so and it is has made working out VERY difficult.

Yes the bubble will go away. Does walking help? Also, try gas-x strips for that. It sounds like that might be stomach gas which gas-x might help. It can't hurt. Glad to hear that you are doing relatively well. Keep the fear about eating anything else as it will keep you on the straight and narrow. This is the time to heal. Are you only allowed Protein drinks and Clear Liquids or can you do full liquids? I have some good Soup recipes that I can send you but it will only work on full liquids.

I meant to tell you that I used to live in Las Vegas! I hated it there, but I taught high school at Canyon Springs High School where 80% of my students were gang kids, the average reading level of my freshman science class was 2nd grade, and I feared for my life everytime I walked into my classroom. Can't say it was the most pleasant year of my life...but it was the best learning experience!

I knew I was supposed to post recipes somewhere, but I couldn't remember where! So here they are. How is everyone doing????? I am back from my lap band doc with great news! They are giving me a photo shoot in exchange for me letting them use my pictures and story on their website and newsletter! I was so excited! Hope to hear from you guys. If you don't feel comfortable posting things on this site please PM me. If you want, I can send you my email address from there.

Feel free to ask for advice anytime. That is what I am here for. The menu has worked out really well for me. Even if I have to find a substitue because something happens (like my strawberries mold :laugh::thumbup:) I know the amount of calories that I can have during that time and find an appropriate substitute. I still use this method today. After a while I have found that food has lost its appeal. My taste buds have changed and especially in the evening for dinner that I don't even care what I am eating any more because food is just fuel. It is what keeps me running. I could eat the same thing day in and day out because I have come to realize that about 20 minutes after I eat...the taste really doesn't matter. People always wonder how I am going to know what I want to eat 6 days from the day I plan the menu. Well there is your answer...it isn't about taste anymore!

Slippage can be fixed without band removal. My doctor told me just 2 days ago that when the band is removed 95% of people gain all of their weight back within 2 years. He said those were national statistics, not just his statistics. I do think however that you do need to get your band fixed as you have been having a VERY rough time, but I would really consider long and hard if you want to have it completely removed. That is as big of a decision as having it put in. I wish you the best of luck and hope that the surgeon will be able to fix it with no problems.

My PS will be doing one with my TT. She said for most people it should be done, otherwise you will still feel flabby (especially for those of us that lost a ton of weight). There are no muscles there to shape it up on your own. She said that it is easy to pull it up while you are pulling the tummy down. I think it is becoming a lot more common for PS in the US to do this procedure together. I know most of the ladies that had a TT in Feb/Mar had the mons lift.

This is where I was exactly afraid to get. I think about food all the time, and when I realized that I was never going to be able to eat like a normal thin person...that is when I freaked out and had my melt down. At least you are not throwing turkey sausages across the kitchen!:thumbup: It is the future that scares me. But for me that future is not in 5 years...its in 5 minutes, 5 hours, 5 days. I constantly am fighting those fears. I really hope that I am not below 148 tomorrow morning because I don't want to up my calories. I want to be able to stay at 1800 because if I go to 2000 that means that I have to eat more and have to think MORE about food. Sure the fat person in me wants to be able to go to 2000 calories because the fat person ALWAYS wants to eat. The new me doesn't want to go to 2000 calories because I feel like I am giving in and that I will lose the incredible control that I have. We can and will do this. We have fended off the demons, but I don't think we will ever BEAT them. I do believe they will always be there. We just have to learn to live with them in a way where we don't harm ourselves mentally (like I am) or physically (by putting the weight back on). Together we are stronger!

My goodness ladies...the time is rapidly approaching. I am going to wait to put my thread up until the day of my pre-op. I am running 12 miles the day before my pre op then on Monday I am going to the preop and following it with a 12 mile walk on my half-marathon course. I am so glad I have this to keep my mind off the TT. I am looking to inspiration from you guys...just like I have on the crazy ates board. It is such an honor to have shared the weightloss/exercise journey with you both and now we get to share the plastic surgery journey as well. Don't get me wrong...I am still green with envy that you get yours before I do, but I just tell myself that I will get to learn from the pros. I will anxiously be awaiting to hear from both of you. And Frangi...we miss you on the exercise board. I feel like I have lost a friend there! I will have to keep coming here to keep getting your dose of kindness. If everyone is as nice as you in the Virgin Islands I might consider moving there. The hospitality might overcome the huricanes and humidity!

I didn't get my workout in yesterday, but I went running for 4 miles this morning. I will do another 4-6 tonight. Keep up the good work!

I wish I could get an unfill...but alas...I am already 100% unfilled...and believe it or not...I PB'd this morning. I am one of the lucky ones who has restriction from the band alone. I am on top of the world. I am learning to not worry about gaining weight...slowly but surely. And I will be so glad when the PS is here. Fortunately I have the half-marathon to worry about so I keep pushing the PS out of my mind. Then I don't have to think about it! All that pain...in a binder in the middle of summer in the desert...all that pain...drains...all that pain... you get the picture! Yes I will definetly post the pictures and put a link to the doctor's website when it gets up. Well I am off to bed. I didn't get to run tonight so I am getting up early and going.

So there is good news, GREAT news, and well...to DH not so good news. First good news! Doc cleared me for TT (I knew he would) and said that all of my nutritional testing is perfect!!!! Yeah! Second great news! They are so excited about my weight loss that they are giving me a professional photo shoot in August in exchange for letting them use my pictures and story as a feature on their website, and the posters in their office. He was just thrilled and astonished at the amount of weight I have lost. Okay not so great news. I am upping my calories YET AGAIN because I weighed in at 148 pounds at the doctor's office. Now...their scale is 2-3 pounds heavier than mine (which I consider official) That means that I could actually be as low as 145. That would make me at a normal BMI, but I really need to make the weightloss stop. I want to be at a stable weight for the next three weeks. So I am going to weigh in at home on Saturday (DH has to dig out the scale from its hiding place) and if I am at or below 148 we are upping the calories to 2000. Well I am off to help at Senior Celebration...I get to be a "carnie" at the carnival. Then I need to run tonight (at least 4 miles...hopefully 5).

Sorry...I couldn't find you again! Here are the recipes. Not all of these are low carb, but most of them are. You can have a small amount of kidney Beans so substitue those for your Pasta and rice. Also check out some books at the library. Also, google Low Carb Luxury...they have some good recipes there. I did Atkins for years and actually stayed pretty low carb during my weight loss phase. Now that I am trying to maintain I have had to increase the carbs a fair amount, but I still like staying lower carb.

Ahhhh...you guys...you make me blush!:thumbup::confused:

Eat veggies at night. I know that my band mom (No relation...she just adopted me from the board!) eats a sugar free pudding or 100 calorie pack of popcorn at night. My suggestion is to decide whether or not you are TRULY hungry or whether it is head hunger. This is what I always did. Sit back in a chair and clothes your eyes. Make your mind go to your stomach...is it hungry? Really try to feel your stomach. If your stomach is not hungry, now we know that we are dealing with head hunger. Dealing with head hunger can be tricky. Sometimes you just have to feed it. If so use the suggestions above. Otherwise, try to do something to get your mind off of it. Have you tried eating dinner a little later? My nutritionist told me that eating before bed is not taboo. Okay as for what I did. I am going to post something that I have sent to a lot of people. It is pretty generic but it is the philosophy and tricks that I used. You do need a combination of exercise and food... though I focused on food first. I lost 50 pounds before I REALLY started exercising. My secret...I followed every rule! 1. I NEVER, EVER drink while eating. 2. Proteins first, veggies next ...and then I was pretty much done! I put 1 cup of food on my plate and I ate that. I never learned to stop when I was full. So I still have to treat myself as a 5 year old child. I give myself what I can eat and that is all I do. Yes it takes a lot of self discipline, but the empowerment you get from telling yourself NO will change your life forever. It has made me a better wife, sister, daughter, teacher and friend. I would overwhelm myself in the past and spread myself to thin. Now I can confidently say no, and things are much better. 3. I never deprived myself of any food so as to eliminate any cravings. The only thing I eliminated was rice because I just can't eat it any more. It gets stuck. And milk and ice cream...gone as well...I became lactose intolerant. I would have spaghetti...mostly with just sauce and ground chicken (my secret ingredient in everything), but I would have 6 penne noodles, just so that I didn't feel like I was being left out. 4. I had chocolate everyday...in the form of a pure Protein bar(that is the name of the bar...but I would stay away from the fruit ones...I thought they were disgusting.) It is low carb, high protein and cut the cravings for sweets, because I had one everyday. I get them at wal-mart. Make sure to look for the 190 calorie ones...not the 300 calorie ones! 5. I ate at 4 distinct times everyday. For my schedule (I am a teacher) it was 6:30, 10:30 (my prep period), 2:30 and 6:30. The 2:30 was the Protein Bar. 6. Shhhhh...don't tell...I did NOT focus on Water. I am a scientist...you dont need 64 ounces of water everyday. Drinking makes me hungry, so I only drink a half hour before I eat. I have to drink more now because I am training for a half-marathon. 7. Exercise...Once I added it, I did walking, strength training, elipticalling and now running. In fact yesterday I just ran 10 straight miles. But that has taken me since January to do that. Take it slow...injuries will sideline you for a long time. Don't over do it because you will get angry at the amount of time you have to spend and stop. Start slowly and start to kind of like it. I still will never LOVE it, even though I train 6 days a week. 8. Set attainable goals. Little things that you can Celebrate. 9. Find what works for you. Not everything I did here will work for you. Find what does and you will have solved the mystery for yourself. 10. Make a menu for yourself for the week, and eat only what is on their. On Friday, if you have followed the menu exactly give yourself one food that you would not normally have, but that still fits in your calorie count. Make sure it is not something that will cause you to binge. I have 1 bag of popcorn. Keep asking questions. I am here for you!

Absolutely I will. Sorry I have been gone. I had to go see my lap-band doc for medical clearance for my TT and it is 6 hours away. With the end of school that has me backed up like rush hour in LA! I will hopefully have time to post later today.

i made it back safe and sound. Will post more later.

I am not sure how tofu freezes. I would make the stock and finish off with the tofu if it were me.

Morning everyone. Sorry I have been away. I had to go to my lap-band doc to get medica clearance for my TT. He was so excited over my weight loss that they are going to feature me on their website, newsletter, office poster, and possibly their upcoming advertisement campaign. I go in for a photo shoot on August 11!!! I should be mostly healed from my TT!! I did get in one workout while I was gone. I did a 5 mile run and 20 minutes on the bike! Don't think I will be getting in a workout tonight as I have to help out with graduation stuff, but I have a 5-10 miler planned tomorrow night.