madfroglady

As I understand it, the reason for the no drinking while eating rule is that the liquids flush out your pouch so you don't get full as fast and stay full as long. My problem is that my doc's rules are no drinking 1 hour before and 2 hours after. That leaves me very little time to remember to drink, especially when I workout in the morning. I'm going to double check with him when I go for my fill tomorrow. frog.

I'm right there with ya. I started out at a size 24 this time, and now my size 20 stuff is comfy. I only have 1-2 size 18 pieces anywhere so it will soon be time to hit the stores. (or at least the second hand shops! I don't want to spend tons of money on clothes that I am going to shrink out of!) Last night, I tried on a jacket that was a 1X (rather than the 2x that I have worn for 10 years) and it fit! woohoo! frog

Does any one else have problems with Listerine breath strips? I just ate/used my first one since I got banded and OOOOOWWW! :eek: That hurts!! What's going on??? frog

Ok. on the advice of those here, I started the Cool Running "Couch to 5k" program today. :whoo: But I know to keep myself motivated, I'm going to have to keep it fun. I took two suggestions that I noted from other threads here: 1. Bought new exercise clothes -- specifically shoes. And since they were having a BOGO sale, I had to buy another pair too. :rolleyes 2. Music -- I knew there was a reason to keep that Awesome 80's CD around. Nothing like trite tunes with a beat (anyone remember the Go-GO's??) to keep up the motivation. No need to think about it, just keep moving! Any other suggestions out there to make exercise fun? frog.

Oh and I made myself an exercise goal and a ticker to go along with it. frog.

My goal is to join the onederful folks in onederland by December 1st. That means 23 pounds in 3 months. As soon as I get cleared by my doc, I'm going to ramp up on the exercise. But in the mean time, I need to focus on Water, Protein and staying motivated. Thanks for being so inspirational!! frog.

I know what you mean. I stuffed my self at breakfast this morning by eating an entire banana. Silliness. I can't wait to get off mushies and try some MX. Great job on the smoking issue: you are a brave and fabulous person! frog.

Whew! I thought I was the only one. It's really annoying! I'll stop scratching at it. Promise. frog.

Ok. Gulp. I looked at that couch to 5k. (My fat a** is screaming "5k?!?! Are you kidding me?!?!?" I'm pointedly ignoring it.) I'm going to go get some shoes so I can give it a try. Thanks for the encouragement. :nervous frog. P.S. Deanna -- Dang, girl! If I could bike 70-100 miles a week I wouldn't need to run! Woo! you rock!

I defintely get hungry but not as bad as my "pre-op 4.5 weeks of 300-400 calories per day liquid diet" hell. I get full after about 1/2-3/4 cup of mushies. I have managed to get myself stuck a few times already: eating cottage cheese/ricotta cheese/hummous/whatever too fast and too big bites because I am hungry. But all 3 times, I waited and it eventually went down. Ouch. My doc told me to concentrate on healing rather than losing at this point (He said I might gain a pound or two but not to panic over it.) so he is pretty easy going. I get my first fill on 9/14, one month after my surgery. Frog.

You go girl! Whenever her husband would ask what to get her for a gift, my friend Jane would say "Fine jewelry is always appropriate." Woohoo! frog

My post-op going home instructions say whenever you feel up to it, just take it easy. Personally I've gotta wait for my Depo shot: I'm not taking any chances on little surprises. frog.

ANother thought. Your expereince may be different... I believe a huge reason for my weight problems were that from a very young age, I watched my mother diet constantly. She tried every fad diet, WW, fasting, you name it. As a chubby kid (my family first told me I needed to go on a diet when I was 4 and forced me to go on Weight Watchers at 13.) the message I took to heart was that none of that stuff works. By the time I was 14 I decided that since none of worked, why bother. I didn't try to lose weight again until I was in my mid20s. I would rather have my kids know that I have a tool that helps me, and I still have to make smart choices about how I use that tool. That way if they ever need help with their weight (they are beanpoles at the moment) they'll know they can talk to me about smart ways to manage it. just my $0.02... frog

Great Goals, Crazy Ates! Let's go get those goals! the mad frog.

"everyone" (as in the mythical everyone) says that after losing weight, you will have more energy. While I would love it to be true, it has not been the case for me previously even when I lost 60 pounds at one point. So I am interested in people's response to the question above. Thanks, the mad frog lady

and for those that don't have a GPS unit, there is also letterboxing. Same idea but instead of finding the box at a set of coordinates, the instructions are like "Go to the 3rd fence post and walk north for 30 ft." Etc. Some are harder to find than others. It is great fun for the whole family. My boys call it treasure hunting. Here is a north American website that has info: Letterboxing North America frog.

My goal is to make it to one-derland (i.e. under 200 lbs) by december 1st. frog

Yes and yes. I didn't have a problem with the foot pumps even though I have some painful vericose veins. (I also have a huge port wine birthmark on one leg which is full of veins/bloodvessels.) It was annoying every time I had to get up to go to the bathroom, but other than that, it was totally no big deal. frog.

OMG I think I have a waist again. frog

My experience was totally the opposite: I love my Depo. been on it for a total of 6-7 years. Conceived my second son with no problems. Gained no significant weight. (did my usual yo-yo stuff.) I have to wait until next tuesday until I can go on it again postsurgery and I'm not going to put it off one minute longer than I have to. Just wanted to give a different perspective. the mad frog lady.

I had to put off my band surgery for a year because DH and I were having major problems and I would not have passed the psych eval. :cry Things are some what better now (we've been in counseling for over a year) but I don't know what is going to happen as I lose more. I have always been heavy. Right now I'm probably 5-10 pounds less than what I weighted when I got married. (though after two kids, each of whom I nursed for over a year, it is distributed a little differently.) If it wasn't for the kids, I would have left him last year. But for their sake, I'm trying to make it work. I'm really worried about this but only time will tell. He says I look good which I suppose means that my weight loss has had a positive effect on our relationship. But our problems are a lot deeper than that. frog

My son (6.5 years) definitely told every kid in his class. :omg: All their parents are coming up to me and asking how I am doing, etc. I won't be surprised if the teacher has me come in for show and tell. LOL the mad frog lady

I once had a new doctor who I had never seen before walk into the room, scrawl "morbid obesity" across my chart (even though my BMI was probably only 35 ish at the time) and tell me to eat diet bread. What?! B*tch. But my all time stinger was from my aunt. I am 5ft 4in and often need new pants shortened as they are too long for me. So after a shopping trip, my aunt sits down to shorten one pair while I do another. So I put the pants on, and she folds the legs up, then looks at me and says "Now, not to be rude, but are you planning on gaining any *more* weight? because if you are <sigh, shaking her head>, we should leave them a little long so they won't ride up too much when you fill them out." My jaw hit the floor. the mad frog lady.

As a former choir member and fairly serious singer, let me chime in here. While you may be well enough to drive, sit up, do light work etc., that is *NOT* the same as the constant and intense pressure you put on you abs while singing. I am 15 days out from surgery and could have gone back to my desk job after a week. But yesterday was the first day that I got through a full vocal warm up. My humble advice would be to heal up and go enjoy the performance from the audience! the mad frog lady

My 6.5 year old son overheard me telling my sister about it and freaked out. He was scared that something would happen to me during surgery. But after some reassurance, he was fine. I had to do a pre op liquid diet so both my kids (3 and 6.5 years) noticed right away and had questions. I told them "mommy needs to get more healthy." Now they know why Mommy does some strange things (like drinking my dinner and not sharing it) and importantly for the 3 y. o., why I can't pick him up yet. the mad frog lady.