Longhorn

I was banded on the first and go in again on December 14 (I had a one-week post-op on the 9th.) I won't know until I consult with my doctor whether I'll be getting a fill. He said we will discuss what I've been eating, how I've been feeling, my hunger level, and my weight loss and then decide if I need an adjustment. Sounds good to me!

I know I've been a broken record on the scale thing but the fact is that if I've had a day without loss or with a gain, I have no idea because I don't weigh myself. I'll find out the net loss, if any, when I go to the doctor on December 14. However, I know that I am smaller because of how my clothes fit. So just because I don't weigh myself doesn't mean I don't get any reward for my efforts! Which would you rather see? Example one: Monday, starting weight for the week. Tuesday, up one Wednesday, down two Thursday, up one Friday, down two Saturday, up one Sunday, no loss Monday, down two. Example two: Monday, starting weight for the week. Following Monday, down three. They both represent the same loss for the week! For me, I'd rather experience Example two and, in fact, I'll only be weighing once a month! I want to experience the joy of stepping on the scale and finding out I've lost in the double digits!:whoo:(And if I haven't lost in the double digits, then weighing weekly was probably worse!)

I was a SAHM while my kids were growing up. The four of them are now 23 to 28. I've been married 31 years. My husband is a remodeling contractor and I teach math at community college. We have five dogs who keep us busy and entertained. I grew up in Michigan and Indiana until I was 16. My family moved to the Houston area and then I moved to Austin to go to the University of Texas and I've lived in the area ever since -- 34 years. I'd love to move to Colorado but can't get my husband to budge, especially since it would be difficult to move his business. Our oldest daughter lives in Denver, though, so we do get to visit pretty often. Our son just re-enlisted in the Marines and is currently stationed at Camp Pendleton, California. Since he just got back from three years in Japan, we're thrilled to have him so close for awhile. Our twin daughters both got married last spring and live in Austin. In fact, both of them work for my husband. I am interested in politics (I'm a liberal Democrat:eek:) and classic movies and radio programs, which I listen to when I'm going to sleep and while commuting (on Sirius satellite radio.) I also get hooked on message boards! I'm looking forward to getting to "know" y'all! Thanks, lindata!

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Hi, Bandit: I went to Klein High School in Spring (back when there was only one 3A school instead of five 4A or 5A schools!) I have the opposite problem with bracelets, especially ankle bracelets, which are never big enough. I have to wear large rings, too, and my ring size is definitely affected by my weight. I can't believe it but my wedding ring is already feeling loose just three weeks after surgery but I think this cold weather we're having is helping, too. My daughters have frames like yours. My twins are 5'9" with small, model-like frames (and figures, thank goodness!) My oldest daughter is 5'7" and a little curvier but not the least bit overweight on her small frame. My son is 6'3" and wears size 13 shoes. He's thin but has the large shoulders and as a Marine, works out every day so that he has some impressive muscles. I hope none of them have inherited the fat gene that runs on my side of the family. So far, they seem to favor their dad in that department. I had a great Thanksgiving. I can't believe how I could have a taste or two of most everything and feel perfectly content with that. I didn't even mind that everything had to be pureed or mushie. I thought I'd be in Bandster Hell by now but so far, I have very little appetite but I enjoy food when I need to eat. I hope it lasts as long as possible! Congratulations on an exciting game! Not the result I was hoping for, of course, but this just hasn't been our year. I'll have to live off the memories of 2005 a little longer, I guess. Take care!

I've said this before but it fits here: there is an over-representation of complications discussed on this board. It's not anyone's fault -- it's just the nature of a board like this. People who have never heard of a message board don't scour the internet to look for one because they had a normal day with the band but people do do that if something comes up that they don't understand. You can also tell by some of the questions that not everyone gets a good education about the band, so they come here to ask about things that many of us know are normal because of what we were told by our clinics. I discussed this with the psychologist with whom I consulted before my surgery. She suggested that I quit reading the board but I've learned so much valuable information and I enjoy sharing with others who are going through the same experience. I've learned to ignore those posts that are negative in nature or perhaps reactionary. I don't want to be ignorant of problems but I don't have to read about them every day to be aware. Your questions about food are perfectly appropriate! However, when there are so many people who were on soft foods while I was still on Clear Liquids and we were banded at the same time, I figure these stages must not be engraved in stone. I'm following my doctor's schedule, of course, and it may be overly-conservative but I don't mind because I don't want my food revisiting me. I think I'm going to need this extra time to correct my bad eating habits like wolfing down my food in big bites. You said you chewed your food to mush. Well, mush is mush, whether you did it yourself or a machine did it. I'm sure the main reason we can't go straight to soft foods is because not everyone will be successful in chewing the food well enough at first. This doesn't sound like you! So I'm sure you're fine. :clap2:

I'm a community college math teacher. That means my students are anywhere from 18 to 60. You wouldn't believe how many times I state something over and over again in my classes and there are still students who completely miss it. I don't mean they don't understand the concept -- I mean they never heard or completely forgot information such as getting up to five bonus points on the test if they complete the review -- and I make this announcement in each of the four classes before each test! I also give them a handout with this information. My point is that doctors may very well explain these things to their patients but that doesn't mean their patients are listening. Sometimes it's just too much information to take in at once. Sometimes they aren't listening or they only hear what they want to hear. And sometimes they just don't understand. Yet they want to be thin so badly that they jump into the surgery and figure they'll worry about the rest later. Anyway, I've been on enough message boards to know that the problems with newbies versus long-timers aren't unique to this board. Try going to a cruise board and ask what people think about wearing jeans to dinner! Talk about a flame fest! And you can have the best FAQs ever and there will still be people who don't read them or who think their question is different. I understand that the issue isn't just asking the same questions over and over but arguing with advice they don't like and it is certainly frustrating. But just as I get frustrated as a teacher, there are enough moments of feeling like I made a difference that it is all worthwhile. Those of you who take the time to try to make a difference on this board, even when you want to scream, are worth your former weights in gold! :clap2:

I know what you mean! I haven't had any negative incidents yet but tonight I was having my refried Beans concoction and I also had some soy chips which I chewed up until they were practically liquified. They have a high Protein content so I thought they would be good. At one point, I noticed that I could feel the last bite go through the band. It didn't hurt but I could feel it. I immediately stopped eating. I may have been eating too quickly so I got my one-minute timer out to remind me to use it the next time. I've had a lot of "new" foods in the last couple of days and I'm trying to be careful. I think I'll go back to more shakes tomorrow for a day of "rest." Keep up the good work!

I found no need for the tongs. I was sore but not that sore. I'm glad that I have a bidet next to my toilet, though, so that I could use it to push up on in order to stand up!

I was told that my food needed to be the consistency of pudding so if it isn't already like that, I needed to puree it first. But even pureed meats need to be chewed further so they are like pudding by the time you swallow them.

Great quote! That's exactly how I feel when my stomach growls but I never thought of it quite that way! :whoo:

I'm on full liquids/pureed foods so I had butternut squash soup and a tablespoon of pureed turkey and other similar foods. I couldn't eat all of it but I felt like I had eaten a huge plate full! Well, actually, I felt even better than that because I didn't feel stuffed but I felt very satisfied. After we went for a walk, I had a couple of bites of dessert and enjoyed that, too. I even had a little wine. If my holiday meals are all like that, I'll be very happy! Even with the wonderful aromas and seeing everyone else with plates of food, I didn't feel the list bit deprived. It truly felt like magic!

I've got a large frame as determined by wrist measurement when I was a senior in high school and weighed 135 pounds (5'8" tall.) I was on the drill team and we had to weigh in every Thursday. If we weighed a pound too much, we were not allowed to dance that week. I was almost anorexic in how I ate that year so that I could dance. Crazy and probably no longer allowed in schools but this was 1973. Of course, my size 11 feet and my "man hands" were kind of a tip-off. When shoulder pads were big in the 80s, I had to take them out of my clothes or I looked like I was ready to play football! Of course, now that they're not in style any more, I'm out of style. A few years ago, I went to the University of Texas Department of Kinesiology and had a thorough analysis to determine my BMR. The head of the department did the tests and he found that, yes, I have a large frame and that I carry an additional 15 pounds of weight due to it -- not just the bones but the muscles, tendons, tissues, etc. that are required to keep them connected and keep me functioning. This explains why at 135, my ribs protruded from my body! I got down to 165 four years ago and thought it looked good. I was wearing size 12 and even a couple of size 10s. My doctor suggested 170 as a goal so that's what I'm going for now. According to my BMI, which I think is somewhat of a joke and the UT guy agreed with me, I would be at or just above "normal."

Please add to THIS list. 1st PattyPoo Nessa3678 brandymom1234 Mom_of_Chuy sanderro Holiwood Longhorn Forestcat Rhea Sades edeva3 Teresajo 2nd lizzie_07 lindata KristinaDawnB lindseyann2u sconie pam726 4th QatarPhil 5th DLW Hungryforchange wnt2lose jelbel 6th Wishes4444(Ann) Diva Inside ndmom kandiceb jetti vanessav hollyberries LangleyGirl 7th Goldie1109 susieq125 shadst83 Cota129 Imonmyway7368 MyLady 8th anw5102 dawndannae stranger138 needto ebrow39 Bandstertobe zippykat QUEENMOTHEROF1 Melanie1972 9th Banded4Life neen7171 maccy mariaxoxo4u Kristin1031 Carsons mommy chubbydiva Miztrniceguy 10th Selisejohnson omlagirl jen6740 anitak33 12th suebob Shalee04 13th CCFRA Princessannod1 Tralynn222 sschude BandChick64 14th lightenup! dream'n2bthin Life Change (Eulete) carleah2 emnasmom 15th steph_cn RxTracy Hopping to It- Danna sunshiny Tete2 kickrmom 16th Laurieu sstaab 19th Mrs Smartypants Momto1plus1 20th Skinny_Jill blondecz (Crissy) Firebolt (Judy) Cuerposano (Diana) Mysie 21st Bobp 22nd luvmy4boys 23rd FlaLMT and fiance HoneyB-Palomino & mom 26th kuchiegrl1 Tishbite2 Motocrossgirly jrsyshoregrl684 (Bypass) BigDoug143 BarBee 27th 731Shawty Cherlita Julie-Ann plump_princess candy8360 28th lukin puppy cagstorm 29th Sassafras TAWHarris McQty close 4mykidzinVale (Surgery in Bend, Oregon) 30th WorththeWeight samorelli

Same with me about the hunger. Sometimes I feel a little weak and/or queasy and since the feeling goes away if I have something to eat, I'm assuming that's what hunger feels like. I almost don't WANT to eat when I get that feeling because food doesn't seem very appetising but I do anyway and then I'm glad I did because I feel better afterwards. But that gnawing, difficult-to-ignore kind of hunger that I used to get, even when I wasn't really hungry, has not returned. So glad you're feeling better!

We have the same attitude! I just don't understand it when someone posts, "Do I need an unfill? I can't eat anything, can't even keep water down, but gee, the weight loss is terrific!" I understand being in a hurry when one is on a "diet" -- that is, something he or she considers temporary. But I'll have this band the rest of my life. I'd rather take it slow and easy and comfortably be able to eat and drink in a healthy way, without constant fear of it coming back up or getting stuck. I also want enough energy to be able to exercise -- in fact, I want to become a "bicycle bitch" myself! My doctor will see me once a month and he said we will decide together if I need a fill based on how much I'm losing, what I'm eating, how I'm eating, and if I'm hungry. He is conservative about fills which is one of the reasons I chose him. If I can lose with few or no fills, even if it's slow, I'll be perfectly happy if I feel like I'm eating a healthy diet and I'm comfortable. Thanks for sharing your experience and advice! You've done great and I would love to emulate you!

My doctor insisted that I get 70 grams of Protein per day. It's all over the material he gave me. And I was to test and find a good source of Protein powder to add to foods -- something that I liked and didn't upset my stomach. I'm using unjury and low-carb SlimFast. Are you sure you're not following the diet for maybe the first day or two after surgery and then you're supposed to be getting in more protein? I don't even have a calorie restriction or a restriction on the amount of food -- just nutritional minimums and directions for how and when to eat. The only time I've been hungry is when I don't keep up with the schedule. I really think you need to verify your diet with your doctor. Good luck!

Please add to THIS list. 1st PattyPoo Nessa3678 brandymom1234 Mom_of_Chuy sanderro Holiwood Longhorn Forestcat Rhea Sades edeva3 Teresajo 2nd lizzie_07 lindata KristinaDawnB lindseyann2u sconie pam726 4th QatarPhil 5th DLW Hungryforchange wnt2lose jelbel 6th Wishes4444(Ann) Diva Inside ndmom kandiceb jetti vanessav hollyberries LangleyGirl 7th Goldie1109 susieq125 shadst83 Cota129 Imonmyway7368 MyLady 8th anw5102 dawndannae stranger138 needto ebrow39 Bandstertobe zippykat QUEENMOTHEROF1 Melanie1972 9th Banded4Life neen7171 maccy mariaxoxo4u Kristin1031 Carsons mommy chubbydiva Miztrniceguy 10th Selisejohnson omlagirl jen6740 anitak33 12th suebob Shalee04 13th CCFRA Princessannod1 Tralynn222 sschude BandChick64 14th lightenup! dream'n2bthin Life Change (Eulete) carleah2 emnasmom 15th steph_cn RxTracy Hopping to It- Danna sunshiny Tete2 kickrmom 16th Laurieu sstaab 19th Mrs Smartypants Momto1plus1 20th Skinny_Jill blondecz (Crissy) Firebolt (Judy) Cuerposano (Diana) Mysie 21st Bobp 22nd luvmy4boys 23rd FlaLMT and fiance HoneyB-Palomino & mom 26th kuchiegrl1 Tishbite2 Motocrossgirly jrsyshoregrl684 (Bypass) BigDoug143 BarBee 27th 731Shawty Cherlita Julie-Ann plump_princess candy8360 28th lukin puppy cagstorm 29th Sassafras TAWHarris McQty close 4mykidzinVale (Surgery in Bend, Oregon) 30th WorththeWeight

Believe me, if I had that kind of leave saved up, I'd take the time off, too. You won't need all of that time to feel better but you'll have time to get used to your diet without having to pack up a bunch of equipment and supplies to work. And you'll be able to start walking regularly without having to fit it into your work schedule. I don't get any leave -- I'm an adjunct faculty at a community college. But even if I did, it would be impossible to get a sub for that many classes. I cancelled one class from each course I taught -- one on Thursday and three on Monday -- and went back on Tuesday. I considered waiting until between semesters but I was assured that five days would be enough and it's been fine but I was sore and tired at first and was really glad when the week ended! Today I felt a little queasy and lightheaded -- I think I didn't eat enough this morning -- so I had a SlimFast Low-Carb shake and that helped. For me, the third morning after surgery was the worst, enough that I started feeling a little down about it. But by afternoon I started feeling better and noticeably improved day by day. I hope you're already over the roughest part!

Wow, what a roller coaster you've been on these last few weeks and months! Congratulations! How are you feeling?

I'm curious -- were you on Hamilton's board? If you were, you'll know which one I mean. If so, I was an active member of that board back in 2003. Give me a PM!

Thanks, Tish!!!! :clap2:

We were visiting with the in-laws at their house last night and everyone else was having pizza so I brought the fixings for my new favorite treat: refried Beans with melted cheese, topped with cottage cheese. I am clearly having trouble getting used to how much I can eat. I mixed up a batch -- maybe a half-cup of the beans, two slices of American cheese, and a couple of spoonfulls of cottage cheese -- and I was only able to eat about one-fourth of it! I had to throw the rest away since it wouldn't have been any good reheating with the cottage cheese on top. I didn't feel physically full and I didn't feel uncomfortable. I just felt finished. I ate it pretty slowly so I'm sure that helped and I haven't been drinking while I eat. It's an interesting situation, one that I'm watching carefully to make sure I learn new habits. I don't know when my appetite is going to come back but it is sure nice not to obsess about food all day. And it didn't bother me a bit that everyone around me was eating pizza and drinking wine. I wouldn't have minded the wine but I've decided to allow myself a little on Thanksgiving so it didn't bother me to wait. How have your encounters with food and/or socializing going?

At one week, I was still pretty tired, too. But by ten days, I felt much better. Just baby yourself and get rest whenever you can. It can take awhile for the anesthesia to completely leave your body, from what I've been told. Take care!

Welcome and good luck tomorrow! I've read that this surgery is considered comparable to gall bladder surgery. It seems to me that it would be even simpler because the surgeon doesn't cut anything out of you. Anyway, I hope you recuperate as well as you did last year. If my husband agrees with your husband, he's kept it to himself. But people who haven't had weight issues just don't understand. Even some who DO have weight issues don't understand because we've been conditioned to believe that it's our fault. More and more research and studies are demonstrating that there is more to this than self-control. I lost 70 pounds four years ago and I fought every pound that I regained. I kept dieting and I exercised like crazy. I didn't pig out. I counted my calories. I don't know what else I could have done except stay on a liquid diet the rest of my life. But I thought that I could eat a normal amount of calories and maintain. Now I know that once you've lost weight, "normal" isn't normal any more. If I'm going to have to stay on a diet for the rest of my life, I need the band to help me. I read in "Fat: What No One Is Telling You" that claiming that losing weight and keeping it off is a matter of self-control is like claiming that you can use self-control not to sleep. Sure, it will work for awhile but eventually your body says, Enough of this!, and you will fall asleep. Apparently, it does the same thing with lack of food. It has certainly been my experience! They made a PBS special of the book, too: FAT: What No One Is Telling You . PBS You can watch it online. Maybe you can get your husband to watch it. Let us know how you're doing!