steph_co

I happened upon this thread searching for something else. It gave me a good chuckle (especially FF's husband with the fruit all day long and ending things in his pants...LMAO). Then I had to stop and think - it actually made me feel bad. I felt bad that so many companies feel it's okay to capitalize on other people's misfortune and exploit their desire to be thin by feeding them so many lies. And then I had to be grateful...that I found the Band before it was too late. That I found THE permanent way for ME to lose weight that doesn't involve sheer torture. Thanks for the thread, guys - it was great reading.

TODAY, I've done well. I had Lloyd's bbq shredded beef and some mixed cooked veggies. Right now I'm drinking a Slim Fast. The past couple of nights, while I have stayed under what I limit MYSELF in calories, I still ate more than I have before then. I didn't feel too good about that. It's a mental thing, I'm sure. I do plan on finding a counselor this January to help me with some things. The only "bad" thing I ate was a piece of gourmet chocolate that had toffee in the middle. It was 28 calories. I felt SO guilty. LOL The chocolate was only the size of a small marble. But I wanted to go back and steal the rest of the tin and eat them all!! haha I instead made myself go back to the office and drink a chocolate slim fast. So all-in-all, doing pretty well, actually. I think it helps that I don't really have anybody cooking tempting things around me. I think if it was there, I'd probably do like you guys and have a spoonful of each thing. Head hunger is a hard demon to beat, I am finding!

I missed the original posting of this, but wanted to say congrats, beekeeper! It looks like you're doing fantastic with your weight loss...wow! Hope you continue to heal and feel better day by day. JaxFab - I would wear heavy clothes to the doc's office and put some quarter rolls in my pockets. LOL I'm thinking Carhart insulated bibs. haha...You'd probably sweat the weight off on your way to the doc's office - how warm is it there right now? We're in the single digits, so insulated pants doesn't strike ME as odd, but your doc might think there's something wrong with you. LOL I hope you can "pass!"

Bandpal, you have such a gift of balladry - I love all your posts. This was especially fun. Thank you so much for sharing it with us!

I haven't drunk alcohol since being banded...I was a featherweight before it. But I read this response in a thread about addiction transfer to alcohol and it seems to indicate to me that our bodies DO respond differently to alcohol: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/626201-post5.html

The only pre-op diet I had was 3 days of clear liquids prior to surgery. I have no idea if that was in correlation to my BMI, because I started out just under 37.

That is definitely a fabulous idea! Thanks! I'll have DH pick some up today...that sounds like an excellent protein for when I wake up.

Our next door neighbors stole our garbage can. I knew it was them, but I didn't see it for weeks because I would assume they kept it in their garage. All of a sudden, one trash day they were dumb enough to put it out there. After trash had been collected, I went and claimed it myself. I don't give a crap if I couldn't "prove" it - it was mine! I had the lid for it still and I had a matching can that looks just like it (we bought 2) in my garage. AND...I remembered how the sticker looked that I had only been able to pull half of it off when we bought it. After we reclaimed them, I spray-painted our house address on it...all 4 sides in bright pink spray paint. LOL Works like a charm...it hasn't been touched since.

EXACTLY...I chose not to vote in this poll.

Had it before surgery...don't have it anymore. I had it really bad before the surgery, too. My NP wasn't sure if they fixed a hernia or not. I would guess yes since the problem has not returned. I love it.

If you have a question not related to somebody's thread, it would be polite to post it in your own thread. Probably in the forum regarding your question. Which in this case would be the technical forum down towards the bottom of the page. Upon entering, you will find the very thread that will help you before you even had a chance to ask the question that has been asked 50 million times before you: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f5/ticker-tutorial-pictures-41782/

Exercise. Count calories by tracking every little thing that goes into your mouth. There may be calories you weren't even paying attention to. Get a fill if you have not had one yet. "Eating less" doesn't necessarily mean anything. I could be eating less calories than I was before by sticking to 2000 per day. But there's no way I'd be losing weight like I am. In addition, I could eat a box of Twinkies per day and still be eating less QUANTITY-WISE than I was before the band. You need to make sure you are taking in QUALITY food. It's not about quantity (before good restriction, anyway). Make sure you get your protein first and then work your way to veggies and then if there is still room...whole grain stuff. Make sure you're getting in your full amount (64 oz) of water per day.

THAT is exactly what I realized when I asked my NP at my surgeon's office this same question. I didn't really like the answer given (which was pretty near word-for-word of what you said, Wasa), but decided that for me - I'll take the risk. I wanted it bad enough. I have a LONG way to go with this band...I can just keep hoping it sticks with me for life. :cry

How the Lap-Band actually works, fills and refills - Lap Band Talk Forum - The largest forum for Lap Band Surgery Discussion and Lap Band Surgery Support

You really shouldn't pressure yourself to lose weight until you have good restriction. Good restriction can take multiple fills to get (I've read of some on here needing 7 to get there). It's not a magical thing you usually get on the first fill - it's actually quite rare to reach good restriction on the first fill. This post gives some excellent information: How the Lap-Band actually works, fills and refills - Lap Band Talk Forum - The largest forum for Lap Band Surgery Discussion and Lap Band Surgery Support

My doctor actually set my guideline at 1 cup and increase as necessary. Also, have you had a fill yet? Once the swelling goes down after surgery, before you've had a fill, you don't get that restriction that you read about other people having. If you're not in pain, no problem. Seriously. You should be able to eat until you feel SATIATED...which means no longer hungry. If that's what you did, there's nothing to worry about. Before my fill, I could easily put away 8 oz or more of food. Now I felt full on 4 oz of tuna and a pudding cup today for my first meal. There's no way I could have eaten so little before my fill. It was helpful for me to read Wendell's thread: How the Lap-Band actually works, fills and refills - Lap Band Talk Forum - The largest forum for Lap Band Surgery Discussion and Lap Band Surgery Support

crazy4catz - I can see where you're coming from (4 1/2 years of TTC and a single miscarriage...no viable pregnancy), but I think having kids is certainly up to the woman involved. Yes - it's a blessing to some to be able to have kids, and to others it's a curse. I don't think it's really necessary to guilt those that have taken care of the one or two that they have (or none at all). The crack whores, on the other hand. Ugh. Don't even get me started. Right after I had my miscarriage at the beginning of September, all kinds of stupid people have fallen pregnant since. I really do my best to not feel angry about it because it doesn't change anything and everything happens for a reason. But there are definitely times when I just want to kick something! I'm right there with you. I'm really hoping, though, that losing the weight will make a healthy pregnancy possible - I hope it turns out that way for you, too. Don't give up hope!

Yes, I did it, too. Thankfully I only had 3 weeks between my initial consult and my clear-liquid pre-op diet. Those 3 weeks, I ate and ate and ate everything I could possibly think of. Yes, I will still be able to eat "those" foods, just smaller portions. But what I liked was being able to eat LARGE portions - that was part of the physical satisfaction. Besides, I'd actually like to NOT eat "those" foods. And when I say "those" foods, I mean stuff like Twinkies and Swiss Rolls and french fries. I might decide to go for french fries once a year, but I don't want to make them part of my diet...whereas before the band, I could easily pound them 3 times a week. That's the difference. I don't think I gained anything between my initial consult and surgery. In fact, after my 3-day clear liquid pre-op diet, I had lost 3 lbs. I say live it up!

LMFAO - I sent them on to DH...he loves that stuff.

Hmm. I'm trying to think of something similar to what you're talking about. I did many volunteer hours for a non-charitable group. This included working late into the night and being up very early. A grueling schedule. It was a training company. The work itself was very rewarding. It never occurred to me to expect a thanks, honestly. It was an honor to serve for them. But that may have been a special circumstance considering the nature of their work. If I were to volunteer for our local group that helps families through the holidays, I guess a simple thank you from the people would be okay with me (but not really expected). If I had more than one day off for the entire month of December, I would be volunteering. The only way I can think to relate it is if my job needed me to volunteer hours... An e-note would be fine. I would think that people wouldn't volunteer their time if they didn't enjoy the work. Hence, the work itself can be a reward. But I guess what I'm saying is that I feel that the email you send out is a nice gesture.

The benefits of working in a tourist town...I am very busy. LOL Tons of people here for Christmas. No - I'm not bored. Kind of wish I was. All these out-of-towners need to go home. BAD drivers and people who think the whole town is a pedestrian mall. I'll trade ya.

I don't drink with meals. I will say, though, that if I did have something available to drink at a meal, I would probably reach for it without thinking about it just because that's how I USED to eat. But because I have to eat standing up in the kitchen lately, no time to sit down at the table at a meal, I just eat. Food container or plate in one hand, fork or spoon in the other. No hand left for a drink. It works for me.

Heehee...YES...I'm really glad I'm not the only one. I don't even get the warning of it "coming up a huge well." I'll be in conversation with somebody and errrrrpppp. Man, it's embarrassing. I've never been one to be burping in front of anybody but my DH. Now I do it in mid-sentence without warning. Thankfully it's only been twice to people other than my DH. I'm usually very polite in talking to people, so this is an adjustment to me! LOL

I just want to say something re:"healing very quickly, I can eat anything!" It's not about your body punishing you for eating something ahead of the stages your doctor set forth. It's about long term damage that you could be doing to your body. The point of the post-op diet is to give your STOMACH time to HEAL. The more your stomach has to digest (ie, bigger pieces), the harder it has to contract to digest it. Do you really want your stomach workin' it on a piece of food and risk slipping? Is the food REALLY worth it that you can't wait through the post-op healing phase before eating whatever it was that just couldn't wait?? Your doctor AND the maker of your band know what they're doing - they didn't give you guidelines to punish you. FTR - I agree with Longhorn on this thread in regards to the original question put forth.

I wouldn't pick at the glue on the incisions. That's supposed to come off naturally. I would be worried to cause an infection. As for the other stuff around on your belly...I used hot Water and basically scratched it off in the shower. LOL Probably not the best, but I was being impatient.