steph_co

Oh, boy, do I look forward to this. I hate buying clothes for myself at this side, so I avoid it at all costs. The only time you'll find me buying new pants is because the old ones have holes on my inner thighs. SO embarrassing. I could have sworn I was the only person this happened to. I can't wait for this problem to go away!

Ooo, that's a super idea. My grandma used to crochet and she taught me a little bit about 18 years ago - don't remember any of it. She passed away a few years ago, getting into crocheting would be a great activity for me - remind me of her AND keep my hands busy while I'm watching TV!!! THANK YOU! I hadn't even thought of this one. As for hobbies I'm picking up...I bought a page-a-day calendar at the grocery store that teaches origami. I haven't had to break it out, yet, but thought that would be great for me to focus on when I feel like binging. I also got a guitar that DH is giving me for Christmas that I plan to pick up. Now with the crocheting thing in mind, my grandma also used to knit, but I never learned that. I'd LOVE to. I think there's even a shop here where I work that teaches it. Oh, I have a project, now. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Oh...and when I'm stuck at work all night long by myself - which used to be prime binging time for me - I drink Water. It's not always plain water - I use SF Koolaid or SF Hawaiian Punch powder. But it gives me that hand-to-mouth feeling and is actually good for me. I have no idea why this works for me now - it never did before the band.

It doesn't look like my doctor's office made a calorie recommendation (reading through my binder about nutrition they gave me), so I'm sticking to around 800 or less. This was an interesting poll. I wasn't sure if I was having too few. I think once I get into running I'll have to kick up the calories just a bit because I think if I tried running now, I'd feel weak. But for day-to-day activity to include my patrol job, 800 or less is not bad.

I agree - it really is not fair to charge EVERYBODY that fee. And YES - DH was so excited to hear that they had won. He was busy and didn't know there was a game. Quoting from him over messenger:

Ang - I'm so right there with you on this one. The only pre-op diet I had was 3-days pre-op clear liquids. So you better believe from the time I scheduled the surgery until I had to be on clear liquids, I was eating all kinds of bad stuff. And yes - I had the thought, "What am I doing? I need to start making better choices NOW to make it easier afterwards!" I finally gave that up because I was tired of the guilt for just enjoying myself. I had the 3-day clear liquid diet and the only "bad" food I've had since then was maybe 3 tiny bites of pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving. I really haven't had a physical craving for them. I have always LOVED bread. Don't really miss it. Really, being stuck on a structured diet has this great effect of cleansing your body of the junk such that your body doesn't feel like it HAS to have it. It does get much easier to make good food choices when you have to make sure that the food you're putting in there is going to give your body the nutrients it needs, rather than empty calories filling up first. I'm 2 weeks post-op and I get full a lot easier than I used to. So if I filled up on junk, I'd be feeling the pain a couple hours later when my body is STARVING again because I didn't give it true nutrition! Don't be so hard on yourself. If we were all so good at keeping the bad eating habits away, we wouldn't be here!

My doc recommended half an hour. But I seriously don't want to mess with my full feeling, so I generally stay away from fluids for at least an hour or more afterwards.

Good job, Longhorn! That's fantastic. Off-topic: I heard on the radio about that Cowboys vs Packers game and how they were going to only air it on the NFL Network that most cable/dish providers don't carry because they're trying to get people angry so they demand it from their carrier. I think that's cruel and unusual punishment! LOL DH is a die-hard Cowboys fan.

Heck, yes! I made some great shredded chicken with taco seasoning and had refried Beans and almost wanted to cry when I couldn't eat more of it. LOL

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f73/surgery-questions-ask-20271/

After seeing how it affected me and how it is affecting my step-kids from their step-dad, I will NEVER spank. I don't care what anybody says. There are other ways to punish. Plain Talk About Spanking Corporal punishment of children: Studies of its effectiveness and dangers More studies on the safety and effectiveness of corporal punishment of children Opposition to corporal punishment of children -- spanking RELIGION AND CULTURE OF THE ROMA (ALSO KNOWN AS GYPSIES, ROM, RROMA, ROMANI) I have a problem sometimes with my anger. Because I'm now an adult, I've learned to control it. But I went after my brother when we were home after school with various dangerous objects because I was so angry and the use of force had been taught to me. One of the step-kids in particular feels it is appropriate to use physical force when he is angry on his younger brother. When his mom and dad were still married, he did not get spankings and did not have such intense anger. I also full on believe that is a sexual/erogenous zone. That's not for adults to be touching.

Wow! Rock it, girl!

I was a day surgery, as well. I also had serious thoughts of canceling. Don't do it! BELIEVE me, you can do this! It is SO much easier than you think it will be. I think I was more afraid of the unknown than anything. But you'll do great. I wrote it down somewhere else, I can't remember if I got out of there at 1 or 2. My surgery was finished at 10:30 and by 12:00 I was begging them to let me out of there. LOL Did great. Home was much more comfortable, anyway. Upon leaving the medical center, DH and I took a 3-hour drive to home and I did great. I don't think an overnight stay is necessary. I would have been climbing the curtains if they had made me stay.

Sounds great, Longhorn! Keep up the good work. Isn't the band great? My hunger is much different, too. It's fabulous. WTG on the downsize from XL to L!

I think the nervousness will go away once I start having some good restriction, so no - I don't think I'm poisoned for life. LOL I just don't want to spoil this and turn this into "Bandster hell."

I'll consider it. LOL Probably on my next days off which'll be Monday/Tuesday. Now I have to find a health food store. Um. Would fresh hummus like that be in produce, then? Because our Vitamin Cottage has fresh organic produce. I could check there. Do you cook it or eat it raw? Do you eat it with something?

Geeee. I WISH I could only eat a 1/4 cup at a time. I limit it to a cup (as per doc's instructions), but I could eat more. I did once and regretted it. LOL I stay at a cup and feel a *little* bit unsatisfied, but doing my best to get away from the table. So yes, I have a little bit of restriction, but not where it should be. I'm limiting my daily calories under 900 and so far haven't gone over 800.

Awesome, Tish! I get my first fill 3 days after that - I'll be thinking of you and wishing you lots of get-well wishes!!!

I love your posts, Bandpal. Thank you for sharing your journey. You have some great insights. Now...I've heard of hummus (movies, seen it on store shelves), but what EXACTLY is it? Like what is in a can of that stuff. Do you cook it, or what? I LOVE garlic, but I'm nervous about trying new things.

I do want to add...who says that having Lap Band takes no discipline. Are you kidding? I have to watch every single thing that passes my lips. I have to take small bites and chew to mush. Later on down the road, there's a possibility that there may be foods that I can never eat again because my body will expel it (bread for some, chicken for others, as examples). I've never been a big Water drinker. I now make it a point to get 64 oz of fluids everyday. I take a multi-vitamin everyday. I watch my Protein and make sure I'm getting my doctor-recommended 60-80 per day. I take a Calcium supplement everyday. I make sure to move my rear-end a little bit more everyday. You know what? In the past, I have always found some excuse to slack off and/or beat myself up for missing a day and giving it up altogether. But I know my band will not give up on me - so I will keep fighting for it. This band MOTIVATES me to keep up the good work because even though I still have the same thoughts about dieting cross my mind ("I'm having a crappy day - I want to go eat junk food," or "I forgot to take my vitamin/drink enough water/exercise...I might as well give up, I'm a failure"), I remember that I have this powerful tool inside of me that keeps me strong. I couldn't do this without the band. I tried. And for the past 13 or 14 years I have gotten on and off the bandwagon. But I have NEVER felt as strongly as I do today. I basically have a daily reminder that I get to take care of myself. The band in my body is priceless to me. Knowing what I know now, if the band cost 5x what it cost me, I would have kept saving until I could afford it!

BINGO!!! What's more important to me: the method I chose to lose the weight, or how long it'll be gone?? Honestly - I have dieted a lot and done different exercise programs. Yes - I was always excited when I saw pounds come off, but I had this niggling little thought somewhere in my sub-conscious that would ask, "Yeah, but I wonder how long THAT'S going to last." I have NEVER felt how I feel now - when I see pounds come off on the scale, every SINGLE one is a victory because I know it is GONE. You want to know what pushed me into surgery rather than just taking on yet ANOTHER diet? I heard the statistic that 98% of people that lose weight like that (sometimes referred to as "white-knuckling") gain it back within 5 years. Yes, there will be some success stories. SOME people that are able to do it on their own AND keep it off. But why torture yourself like that? Lap Band is such a powerful tool to assist us to LOSE weight and keep it OFF! :whoo: That's worth it to me!

December 20th. Yep - just before Christmas. Yay - no more crazy holiday eating for me!

I think you'll have to do a new thread and then you could just put in the main part of this message the link to THAT thread. This one will eventually die when people start going to the other.

I'm so glad nothing is wrong with your liver! Now I'd be angry with your doctor for making you miss your date. :eek: LOL Hope they can get you in soon. And YES - in my mind you'll always be a November Nymph!!!

OMGosh...that's just scary.

You guys still have civil rights. If there's a problem that needs immediate attention, then ask to see a supervisor because you don't agree with how they are searching you/your property. This way you have somebody that is over their head so they can't claim that you did something wrong - you'll have a witness. I wouldn't recommend telling them how they are supposed to do their job...human nature in general doesn't like that. But you could simply ask why they are doing something a certain way when it would make more sense to just (for instance) touch OVER the clothing rather than having to see bare skin so that nobody is embarrassed. If they still won't see reason, when they get finished, ask to speak with a MANAGER. There is almost always one nearby if you are in a larger airport. Explain the problem in detail, let them know that you put up with the poor treatment, but that it was uncalled for and that you'll be putting in a complaint and possibly contacting the ACLU. That'll put the dread in any manager's heart. LOL