Longhorn

I think I'd send an email out to everyone in advance -- or at least a few key people in the family -- and level with them about the stage you're in. You can often get people on your side if you just ask for their help. I don't see how it could hurt and it might take the pressure off of everyone. I'm glad you're back and good luck and happy holidays!

Nope. Que sera, sera! My only goal is to keep plugging along, following the rules as best I can and getting back on track if I should stray. I'll drive myself crazy if I if I try to set a timetable but goal-setting does seem to work for many folks.

I didn't always blend food if it was crumbly or dissolved easily. I just chewed it up really, really well. I pureed foods that could go down in bigger pieces if I missed something.

My view is that we have to live on fewer calories than "normal" after having dieted for so many years. It's not starvation level but it's hard to maintain for the rest of our lives. I lost 70 pounds on a VLCD (Very Low Calorie Diet) four years ago but as soon as I went back to 1600 -1800 calories a day, I gained. According to all the math and formulas, I should have at least been maintaining, if not losing, at that level, and that doesn't even count the exercising I was doing. But they're beginning to learn more and more about how all this works and it really isn't just "calories in, calories out." So the band allows me to be on a VLCD for the long term. I found that idea a little depressing at first because it's hard to imagine that I wouldn't be miserable, but that's what the band helps take care of. There are still adjustments to be made in my thinking and habits and I'm just at the beginning but I've had enough of a glimpse of how this works that I am no longer depressed. I think you asked a good question, one that many of us had in the beginning. Good luck on whatever you choose!

Diets have really messed me up over the years. What's good on one diet is evil on another! Fortunately, I've covered them all so either all foods are evil or none of them are. So, yes, I've had some carbs but I try to eat good ones and in smaller quantities. I think you did fine, limiting the amount of lasagna you had. Maybe next time, make it with spinach or whole wheat lasagna and you'll feel even less guilty! I think once we get accustomed to smaller portions, the guilt will go away. My doctor told me that there was nothing absolutely off limits (once I'm finished with the post-op diet) as long as I follow the rules and limit portions. But we do need to give ourselves time to get used to that idea. Don't count on that first fill making much of a difference. You could be different, of course, but I understand that it takes a few fills to get restriction. I certainly don't feel any different since my fill. Good luck!

Are you going to get to see the game Saturday? We'll have to go to a sports bar since we don't have satellite. The Longhorns play Michigan State at 5:30 so we figure we'll go watch that game and have good seats for the Cowboys game. For the Green Bay game, the only thing they had on the menu that I could really eat was fried cheese! I only had a couple, though, and couldn't believe how that was enough. I have more options this time. Go Cowboys! :clap2:

He's at Camp Pendleton, near San Diego. After his first year of training in California, he spent the next three years in Japan so we rarely got to see him. It's good to have him closer now -- just two time zones instead of 15! I don't want to gain, of course, and that's one reason I don't weigh every day because my weight has always fluctuated a lot. I've never found much correlation to my daily activities and my weight, anyway. I've gained when I shouldn't and lost when I shouldn't so I'm just paying attention to the net loss for the month. I'm not normally a patient person but since this is the way I'm going to live for the rest of my life, it's easier to just relax and go with the flow, especially knowing that the fills will be there to help me. I've found that when I'm really craving a snack, a sugar-free Jell-O pudding cup really helps. I eat it slowly and I always tell myself I can have a second if I want (only 60 calories each) but I never do. Do you have a "safe" food that you can turn to at those times?

My understanding is that calcium citrate is better absorbed than calcium carbonate. The nurse practitioner, who specializes in nutrition, at my GP's office first advised me about calcium citrate a few years ago. Then the nutritionist in my surgeon's office gave the same advice.

My doctor's practice consists of the surgeon, an office manager/medical assistant, a nutritionist, and a physical trainer who also helps out in the office. The only slight complaint I have is that the staff gets stretched a little thin so that I've had to wait 30 to 45 minutes after my scheduled appointment. However, when it's my turn, I've never felt rushed so I just plan accordingly. Otherwise, I couldn't be happier. The staff is responsive and efficient. Phone calls are returned and they do what they say they'll do. It was only two weeks from my initial consultation until surgery which meant I had a lot of appointments and labs to get done and the financing arranged but it all went off without a hitch. Every member of the staff, including the doctor, seems to love being there and doing his or her job. I like that the after-care is part of the package price ($12,500 for everything but the initial consultation, nutritionist, psych eval, and labs) and that I meet with my surgeon once a month rather than just when I think I need a fill. I like that my doctor and I will decide together if I need a fill and that he does the the fills himself in his office and seems quite good at it -- no problem finding the port and I didn't feel a thing! I like that he is conservative about fills -- I would rather be too loose than too tight and I'm patient about losing weight. My doctor has told me there is no reason to be hungry and to just follow the rules but has not limited how much I eat. So I eat Protein first, chew slowly, and wait between bites and so far, I haven't experienced any "bandster hell" even though I don't have any noticeable restriction after one fill (4 ccs in an AP 10 cc band.) I don't know if it's me or the band but I do eat much less than I used to and I'm satisfied. I especially like that my doctor doesn't talk down to me and he answers all my questions. He also adjusted the program, such as my pre- and post-op diet, based on my weight goals and issues with food and not a "one-size-fits-all" approach. From what you've written on this board, I get a sense that you already conduct your practice in this manner, respecting your patients and trying to do what's best for them. Patients can tell when a doctor loves what he or she does or, on the other hand, is just in it for the money. Thanks for asking and good luck! :clap2:

My doctor recommends calcium citrate rather than calcium carbonate and the Citracal is calcium citrate. I plan to switch to those next so thanks for the flavor recommendation. I used to love Viactiv but it's calcium carbonate.

I was banded on a Thursday and returned to work on Tuesday. I get no sick leave -- another couple of days would have been nice but it was definitely doable. Good luck!

Hi, Chris, and congratulations! I was also not hungry in the beginning and I'm still not really hungry. I was also worried about eating mushies and soft food but it just made me eat slowly and chew a lot, just like we're supposed to. I've never had any trouble so I've probably gotten a little careless and will need to keep that in mind after my next fill. There's not a lot going into you right now so it's not surprising that your digestive system isn't the same as before but it should return to normal, especially as you ease into mushies. Your life will start feeling more normal again very soon. Keep up the good work!

Then there are these definitions: skin·ny (skĭn'ē) adj., -ni·er, -ni·est. Very thin. See synonyms at lean2. Of, relating to, or resembling skin. skinny adjective Having little flesh or fat on the body: angular, bony, fleshless, gaunt, lank, lanky, lean2, meager, rawboned, scrawny, slender, slim, spare, thin, twiggy, weedy. Idioms: all skin and bones, thin as a rail. Seefat/thin.http://www.answers.com/skinny&r=67 Most people use "skinny" to mean the opposite of "fat." I agree that some of the above synonyms are more complimentary than others and yes, there are better choices such as your suggestions, but I, personally, would not jump to the conclusion that someone who calls me skinny is trying to be mean. Life's too short to assume the worst from others. Just my opinion.

I also asked how many unfills my doctor has done, since he doesn't typically use fluoroscopy. And I asked him how he decides when to do a fill. There are different philosophies out there about these matters and it's good to find a doctor who is a good match. Be sure to take notes for when a comment sparks another question. I hate it when I forget to ask something because I didn't remember it until later! Good luck!

I'm curious how people are supposed to know what is welcome and what isn't -- at least, the first time. I've read complaints from people who have lost weight because no one commented, even when the weight-loss was dramatic. They're sort of damned if they do and damned if they don't! Certainly if a comment is to be made, there are degrees of politeness and if the comment does not seem to be well received, then it's a good idea not to say anything at all. It's also not anyone's business how much someone has lost and what his or her goals are. But I honestly believe that referring to someone as skinny is meant to be a compliment, probably an envious one at that! When my twins were born, I would get, "Are they twins?" everywhere I took them, followed by, "You've got your hands full!" Whether they were sharing in my joy or not, I chose to assume they meant to be polite and I laughed as if I had never heard it before. Since we rarely know what someone is really thinking, why not choose to believe they are being positive? Life is much more enjoyable that way! :whoo:

Well, it has always been my understanding that we don't generally get restriction until four or five fills or more. I really, really do not want to be one of those people who get stuck or vomit all the time. I realize that some people feel it's not that big of deal and it's worth it to them to be very restricted so that they lose more quickly. I never question what other people think is best for them but it's definitely not what's best for me. So personally, I'd rather take it slow and get small fills that allow me to adjust to this new way of eating. I'm also in my fifties, married almost 32 years, mother to four grown children, content in my career -- so I have no reason to be impatient. Others who are single or hoping to have children or who feel like their weight is holding them back in their careers or lives have much more incentive to get their weight off quickly, especially if they have more to lose than I do. I'm usually an impatient and competitive person and there are times when I see how quickly others are losing who were banded at the same time as me that I'm a little envious but I just remind myself that we're each different. If you're feeling good otherwise but are battling hunger, then maybe you should get another fill. I've heard that fills can take some time to "kick in" but I suspect that's more true with later fills than the first one. If heading down to Mexico right now is inconvenient and you think you can handle it until a better time, that makes sense, too. There's a lap band surgeon who is now posting on this board -- DrWatkins -- and he said he believes that you should be filled to as much as you can handle. Do you have someplace local where you can get an unfill if necessary? I think that would influence how aggressive I am more than anything. Good luck in whatever you decide!

To whom are you addressing this? If you use the "quote" feature at the bottom right of each post, it's easier to carry on a conversation.

We have a lot in common: same age, banded the same day, and I hear Texans and Australians aren't that different from one another. So, yes, let's try to keep each other on track. I don't go back to work until January 14 and I don't work in a typical work environment -- I go from one campus to another to teach. This makes it easier for me because I am only around the food that I buy and I don't buy things that tempt me. Of course, as I say this, I just shared a bottle of wine with my son, who is a Marine home on leave until tomorrow. But empty calories aside, there are worse things than a couple of glasses of wine. I've said all along that I'll be a slow loser and one of the reasons is that I'd rather not suffer too much along the way. I don't have any trigger foods and I don't binge so I'm not risking too much to occasionally eat on special occasions and when I'm hungry. I'm more likely to stay on course for the long run if I don't get too severe on the way. I'm still finding that eating plenty of protein fills me up and keeps my mind off of food for long periods of time. How about you?

This sounds very wise to me. Chances are, things will be fine after your first fill but better to be cautious and give yourself a chance to adjust, if necessary. Glad you could make the change!

I made my next appointment at my last appointment and was hoping to get one at 4 weeks, which would be January 11. However, my doctor only does fills on Fridays and he was already booked so I took January 18. The office manager said she would call me if there's a cancellation. He wants to see me once a month regardless if I get a fill. I hope you can get in sooner! I'm okay now but who knows how I'll feel in a few weeks?

Foofy: I was feeling the same way but I got a fill anyway and I don't feel any different. I'm glad I got it because it will likely take a few more before I get restriction so when and if my "old ways" return, I'll be that much closer to being able to handle it. Although I find myself thinking about food now and then, all I have to do is question whether I'm really hungry and I find that I'm not. Now, I used to try to think it away before the band and it didn't usually work so something is definitely different! I feel like the edge is off of my hunger and it has affected my head hunger, too.

I use a food thermometer to make sure the food is below 130 degrees before I add the Unjury and then it mixes fine.

My surgery was at 7 a.m. and I was out by 1:00 -- home before 2:00. I am SO glad as I have never rested well in the hospital. I was comfortable in my own La-Z-Boy and my daughter was here in case I needed anything but I didn't really need anything.

Your roommate mentioned your experience to me in an email. That's a very aggressive schedule - 4 ccs at surgery and 1 more added just 18 days later? My 10 cc band had 1 cc in it at surgery and my doctor added 3 ccs six weeks later. I didn't feel a thing and I can't tell that I have any restriction, just as I expected from my doctor and this board. I certainly haven't had any pain! I think you need to see the doctor right away and get checked out, plus find out exactly what they have planned in the way of a fill schedule. Then if it's not for you, you can find another doctor to do your after-care. My doctor has an after-care program for patients who he didn't band. I hope you're feeling better soon! Take care!

Try putting it in writing. Here's the email I sent to my family: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f17/my-email-my-family-44885/ Whatever their opinions, they kept them to themselves and I've received nothing but compliments and support. Good luck!