rivergirl14

I'm gonna have to take a look at the site. Might be just what I need. Thanks for the suggestions.

Well I still can't get this right. Using laxatives too often. I'm gonna have to start really being intentional about getting in fiber. But I think it makes me bloated sometimes.

I totally agree. I was going to find a nutritionist until I stumbled on this site. I still will if I need to but the support here has helped me make some big changes so far. I also bought the lap band book found on here.

How cool. I did not know about this scale. Want! I think I might have to get a fit bit too. All this is helpful to know.

Great advice ladies. Truth. This initial phase is for your stomach to heal. The idea is not to make it work too hard to digest foods or get stretched out, gassy and bloated. Should be simple foods/liquids that pass on thru easily. Keep it calm. Let it rest. That kind of thing. I made a lot of mistakes too. And I ate a lot of wrong foods for several years now. Thankfully, I did not damage my band or stomach by being so careless. I use a lot more caution now. Take it easy on yourself and your body. solid food will come. I remember what it was like to want it so much tho. I did not have an easy time either. Just so ya know. :-) I absolutely came out of the gate a rebel. It has taken me years to want to do the right thing. :-)

Me tooooo! I am a carb addict and will gravitate to only carbs if I am not mindful and intentional. And it's one thing to say don't have them in the house. If I lived alone that would be possible and helpful. But since my husband is an average size and can eat what he wants, he does. And he buys all my trigger/red light foods. Little Debbies, chips, doritoes, cheese puffs, etc....So, just not having it in the house has not been a path I can follow. Tho, I do believe if they were not around, it would be easier. Much easier. I do ask him to keep them in his office or on a shelf that we have designated for him. It helps to think of it as not my food. Then I also hav substitues for when I am weak. Most of the time (these days) I can choose those substitutes. But it is not usually easy. Sigh. Good ole Lays, you can't eat just one. I can't eat just one skinny cow either. I do ok for the most part with Atkins stuff if I want a sweet and they don't trigger me to keep digging in the box for me. So I have to pay attention to what doesn't have a voice in my head. Lays has a voice in my head. I have to finish them once I start them. Ack! I try to make good swaps, like WASA bread (crackers) with salsa or hummus. I would never binge on those (I don't think), as they taste like cardboard. LOL But, I agree, gotta watch the dips. If I get into one I particularly like, ( green onion dip, french onion dip, spinach dip, you get it), the WASA makes no matter. I can eat a bunch of it till the dip runs out. Some foods I just can't start. Esp the salty/fat/starchy combo. The blander the better. hahahaha

I also agree with Peggy. The band is only a tool. You have to become willing to embrace some lifestyle changes. What is one thing you could do different today? For me that one thing was get out of bed (even tho I was in a food fog from bingeing the night before) and walk. It was painful. I could not go far. I sweated and huffed and puffed. But, it gave me the willingness to make better choices for the rest of the day. Then I got up and did it again the next day. And the next day. And now 11 days in a row. And I did 4 miles today. I broke it up over several times today. But I did it. I could not do it 11 days ago. And what I did not plan on was how much better I would feel in just a few days. The endorphines that come from the physical activity. That helps with my physical and emotional recovery from the disease of food addiction. But it came one day at a time. Just sayin, "What can I do today that is one thing different than what I have been doing that will make my day more hopeful and healthful." We are all here for you. Also, logging in my food and exercise has helped tremedously bc of the buddy system, using my fitness pal. A lot of ppl from this site use it with great success. I was unwilling to use it before 11 days ago. Too much work and energy. Now I don't go a day without it and begin it first thing in the morning. The willingness came when I made small changes and got some cheerleaders in my court. :-) We are cheering for you!

I am glad you said that. Everyone is different. But we are a lot alike too. It is best to just take what you like and leave the rest when reading about someone else's experience. Some lose faster than others and it has nothing to do with how hard they are working or how well they are following their program. There are a lot of variables. I Celebrate the differences here and relish in the similarities. This is a good place to be. :-)

❤️ Hugs. I am a Christian and will pray for you and me. I can relate and found this site myself bc I was so low after going back to old eating habits and gaining weight. You can do this. I'm here for support should u need it.

I could use some mentoring if anyone is up for it. I was banded in April 2008. I haven't followed the plan at all. I eat all wrong. I've gained weight back. I'm also a compulsive eater and sugar addict. I eat emotionally. Learned all that in the last two years. I overeat and my stomach bloats and is distended. I am suffering from a multitude of problems from binge eating. I did think lap band would solve all my problems. When I went in I thought I was ready. Clearly I was not. Later I learned about OA and I do attend meetings. I can't remember lap band guidelines cuz I never really tried to follow them. But I'm suffering with a lot of stomach pain and bloating and need to change the way I eat. Thanks!

Exercise has become a priority for me too. I used to make all kinds of excuses. I have been walking 2 miles each morning for 9 days. Today I went and checked out 3 videos from the library. 2 walking ones and one dance. Gonna give those a try for really hot days as summer is approaching. Mix it up. Keep it fresh.. But walking is my favorite. I love nature and it really clears my head.

MFP had absolutely made a difference for me too. I tried it like a year ago, but did not have any friends on it. I did not keep it up. It also helps me a lot to have friends from this site on it, since we have WLS in common. Together we do get better!

I think fitbit will sync with MFP. At least I believe I saw that. I have logged in 9 days straight now and I love it. A lotta support there from ppl on here that you can buddy up with. I like seeing the data on what I am putting in my mouth too. And it will caution you if you are taking in too many carbs, sugar, etc. Good for me to get that red flag. It helps with planning out the next day so you are not guessing what to eat.

Update. Things have really turned around for me. Thankful. This includes 9 straight days of logging in food and exercise on MFP. A lotta support there from ppl I met here. Feels good. I hope things are going well for you all too. :-)

Wait. That's on MFP right? I'm wondering how in this site actually. On bariatric pal.

Duh! Let me check thst.

I use the app on my phone but have realized the sure works a lot better with PC. There are things I can't seem to do on phone app that are options on PC.

No progress button on my phone. . I'll keep looking. It's an iPhone.

I suppose it would be nice to know how to add a ticker too? Anyone can help with that? Maybe this is a question and answer forum. Sorry.

Also, while here, can anybody tell me how to change my weight on the this site? Happily I have lost 3 lbs since joining, but I cannot for the life of me find in settings, or profile, how to change my weight. Thanks in advance!

I use it. I will add ya! Add me too. dbradley2010. Just Started it. Loving it so far. Does anyone use map my fitness? It is supposed to sync? But I can't get it to. Maybe I am doing something wrong.