Lynn_Marie

Just wondering...is anyone using Stevia in the place of Splenda, Equal, Sweet and Low? I'm thinking about buying some because I've heard it's all natural and better for you. :ranger:

I'm not that far out yet, but what are you eating? Can you be more specific about what you are having trouble with?

I just learned today that my potassium is a little low. I think I might be able to get it up by adding potassium rich foods to my diet. I like greens well enough to eat them and they are lowest in calories, but I wonder if I will always be able to swallow them??? Any ideas???

The doctor is suggesting that I take care of it by increasing Potassium in my diet. It was actually still in the reference range the lab gave, but the lowest it could be without being out of range...and Yes, it is more than likely due to the Hyzaar which has a diuretic in it. I know we're really not supposed to, but I took myself off it for the time being. I have my bp checked every Wednesday by an RN and it has been great for a long, long time now. If I don't see any change in it w/out the Hyzaar I'll just stay off it. However...if I see any edema or changes in bp I'll be right back on it!!! I also take CoregCR so it's not like I'm going completely off all bp meds. Do you think I'll be able to get the greens down once I get good restriction? I'm thinking they may help my bowels, too.

I tried the roasted tofu recipe (posted earlier on this thread) over the weekend and I LOVE it! I just did the basic recipe and next time I am going to try adding garlic and see how that is. :whoo: ....still excited about Tofu!! And to make it even better, Whole Foods had a sale ... $1.00/lb!!! Beneficial health wise plus it helps my budget!

:help: I know how beneficial soy is, especially for women. I like Tofu and I REALLY want to learn how to cook it! I have been reading up on it and looking for demonstrations at the health food stores in my area, but so far no luck. (hands on learning works best for me) I was thinking that if some of you on here would share some recipes and include step by step instructions and allow me to ask a few questions it might do the trick!

I was looking at the websites that FaithMD posted in this thread and learned that Sweet Leaf has liquid flavored Stevia, too....so...I got on ebay and bought some Vanilla Cream flavor...can't wait to get it and see how it is in my decaf! They have lots of other flavors, too!

I saw this on a post and it seems it is used in place of saline? What is it? Does it have advantages over saline?

I guess it probably doesn't change the fill any since a cc is a cc?

I agree that this is a valuable post that should be readily available...so I'm bumping it up! Not sure that is the best answer, but it might help for now.

Aww...don't beat yourself up over this. You said you aren't feeling well so just do your best and then do better when you are well. You'll do fine! Just hang in there!

I'm thankful for this thread because now that I am a couple months post-op I am having some trouble with constipation. I have some flax seed in my cabinet but no way to ground them and don't want to eat them whole. (they're better for you ground, anyway) I had also considered putting some form of fiber in my protein drink, but wasn't sure what would be best. Anyone heard of Citrucel?

I had previously tried samples of Sweet Leaf and NuStevia and had decided that of the two I liked the Sweet Leaf best. But when I looked for it this weekend at Whole Foods I could only find the NuStevia packets. So, I have been using the NuStevia in decaf coffee, and I like it a lot and plan to use it as much as possible in place of Splenda, etc...

Welcome here!!! I am relatively new here myself, but I have found it to be a safe place to share and learn. As for your colleagues...they are human, too. Maybe you can educate them over time, :whoo:

You guys are doing FANTASTIC!!! Congratulations! :whoo: :clap2:

My fill was 1.5cc. From what they said I guess .5 of that primes the tubing from the band to the port and the other 1cc is in the band itself. He said there was nothing in the band to prime it or anything. Is that normal? Do most doctors prime it? Just wondering...

I am a very honest person and I don't like to lie about anything, but I am starting to have an uneasy feeling that the doctor might not give me a fill (or a very good one) when I see him on Monday. Should I tell him that I'm starving and eating large quantities of food when I'm not at all? Should I lie about my starting weight so it looks like I haven't lost that much. He doesn't know what I weighed to begin with because he didn't do the surgery. I just hate to think of paying the money (self pay) and not getting a good fill for the money. What do you all think?

G-R-E-A-T JOB!!! I know you had the help of the band, but a lot of that was YOU, girl!!! CONGRATS!!! :clap2:

Ok...I told the truth....well, sort of. I told him that I am not experiencing anything I have not experienced before. I have always been able to go on a diet plan, Weight Watchers, Atkins, South Beach, Sonoma, whatever, and lose the same amount as I have lost....BUT...always end up losing control and gaining it all back PLUS some. I told him I feel NO restriction and that my weight loss is strictly due to not eating more than 3 meals and no more than 1/2 cup or 3 to 4 oz per meal. All of that is true...BUT...to be completely HONEST, I have to say that it has been easier this time and I believe that is because of the band...even without a fill. So I got the fill and can't tell a bit of difference...yet anyway!!!

Interesting you should post this today. My husband just picked my rings up yesterday. I had to have them sized down one size...my wedding rings and my grandmother's wedding ring. I had actually thought I had lost my grandmother's ring because it slipped off my finger. Luckily I found it inside the zipper pocket in my purse. It had come off when I was putting my keys in! So that did it for me! Straight to the jewelers they went. $60 well spent!!! :whoo:

WOO HOO!!! What a nice surprise to have someone notice before you thought anyone would! Keep up the good work! :whoo:

Thanks so much to all of you who responded. I have decided to tell him the truth along with my concerns about this. I know I will be happier (and safer) all the way around. Thanks again!!! Lynn

The plan I'm following says No Drinking during or for 1 hour after meals. I like the idea about having the glass of ice, though. Just today at lunch I took a bite of soup that was too hot and I had nothing cold to chase it with. OUCH!

WOW!!! That is so AWESOME!!! Good for you!!! You go girl!!! :whoo:

From everything I've read on here it seems that everyone has to 'work their band' whichever way works best for them. Personally, I don't count calories or carbs or anything like that because I don't want to play the mind games that come with that. (or do for me, anyway) When I count like that my mindset becomes...How many calories/carbs do I have left?? What else can I have to eat??? and worst of all I get that latter years Weight Watchers mentality of, "It doesn't really matter what I eat as long as I don't exceed my points (calories, carbs, whatever I used to count) So....NO COUNTING for me!!!