Foofy

Hey wendy, You are doing great. You can see my numbers in my signature. I am averaging about 3.3 pounds a week since I started the pre-op diet at the end of October, but hardly any of that was lost in the last few weeks. I think your body just needs to adjust. I have said this before (and I believe it FIRMLY) - when I hit a slow stretch before, I would get pissed off and quit. Now, I am certain that it WILL come off - maybe more slowly than some people think - but it WILL come off, and I will NOT quit. I find that realization very soothing.

I LOVE the book YOU on a diet. It is very easy to read and has great drawings. I especially love all the information about the physical and hormonal issues surrounding obesity. There is a section on your "omentum" the sack of fat that drapes from your stomach, pressing on your internal organs and giving the "beer belly" that is so recognizable. Every time my stomach growls these days I visulaize my omentum getting whittled down a little bit more. My internist has a big sign in each of his exam rooms that reads: "Rules: Eat more, Move less, Be nice, Don't Worry". Great advice.

Aubrie, I feel like I am a veteran of hundreds of attempts to "start drinking more water" over my lifetime. My experience is that the constant peeing tapers off significantly once your body gets used to the new Water supply. It was explained to me once that your body hoards water when it doesn't get a regular supply. Once you start drinking a lot, the excess water flushes out (which is why you seem to be peeing more than you are taking in). Eventually, you establish equilibrium and can sleep through the night. Hang in there.

Hey Worth the Weight, Longhorn gave you the correct location, the Laughing cow wedges are in the deli case at my supermarket. I actually got a four box package of them at costco. I LOVE them. I like the light Swiss. They are soooo creamy and are in the PERFECT little darling package. Talk about portion control. I feel skinny just looking at them. I can take them to work in my pocket. I think mine are 35 cals each, and two fill me up. Mmmmm - like eating buttah! ;o)

I'm four weeks out and still not really "hungry". My stomach growls like crazy, but to me that's not "hunger". Unless there is something REALLY tempting right in front of me, I am pretty indifferent to food. It's GREAT.

Lexie, You and I were banded on the same date and have almost the same weight loss. I have been "stuck" for 3 weeks, but I am losing inches. I think I am actually losing fat, but am maybe putting back a little of the Water I lost at the beginning. Maybe my bod is just sorting things out. Whatever, I am not worried. That is the greatest thing about this band. Before, after being stuck for three weeks, I would have discarded whatever diet I was trying and just strapped on the old feed bag and had a pity party. Now, I just trust that it will all work out in the long run. It's a very calming feeling. Good luck. You are doing great!

I popped into work for a moment today and caught myself JOGGING up the stairs without even thinking about it!!!! A few months ago, I was grunting up them like an old woman. My knees feel MUCH better. For some reason, I also sleep much better since surgery. I used to always wake up in the middle of the night and feel OLD stumbling to the bathroom. Now I sleep right through to the alarm clock. Maybe its because my body is not digesting so much food all night long....

Mmmmmm, soft foods: Tuna and light mayo with relish on club crackers Crab cakes Black beans, egg, salsa Cottage cheese mixed with yogurt Sushi Avocado Laughing Cow light wedges!!! Egg salad Spoonful of peanut butter

Diane, One thing I have learned the hard way is that when you are dehydrated, your body hangs on to every bit of Fluid it can. So, the best thing to do when you are bloated is to drink Water. It seems counterintuitive, but it's true. Once you get enough fluids coming in, your body will let go of the emergency fluids it is storing. Good luck.

I don't know about the band, but I have titanium screws in my knee cap and I have never set off the airport alarms. I have also had no problems with an MRI - maybe because the screws are imbedded in bone? I didn't have any problems with metal fillings in the MRI either....

My DH had it done 8 years ago and has never regretted it. He wore glasses since he was 2 years old. He is very very happy. My friend had it done and wishes she hadn't. She still has to wear glasses, and for 6 months she had double vision. HOWEVER, she was at the very edge of having eyes that were too bad to qualify. If you are a good candidate and choose a good surgeon with lots of experience, I think that the odds are that you will have a fabulous outcome.

Hi all, I am 48 years old. I was raised in Las Vegas (when it was a small town), moved to the east coast in my 20's, and have lived in Montana for 18 years. I moved here to start an office of a consulting company with my sweetie in 1989. I am a geologist and project manager for an international engineering firm (Bandpal - I was supposed to work in Jordan last year, but sadly, that fell through. I was really excited about seeing the Middle East). In my spare time I paint, sing, garden, raft, lift weights, and remodel houses (I am an HGTV addict). I've been married to my sweetie for 17 years, and we have four furry children - Dave, Tim, Chuck, and Bob. Amazingly, we still work together, too (and our 14-year old border collie, Dave, is the office mascot). We live in a 120-year old victorian in Montana's capitol. We are lucky enough to be able to walk to work. I have always battled my weight (WW in 5th grade - when they made you eat LIVER once a week!!!, Atkins, shots of something mysterious, Jenny Craig, NutriSystems). Nothing worked in the long run. I finally just got tired of being limited by my weight. There are so many things I WANT to do that I can't anymore. Heck, I want to hike in our beautiful mountains and poop in the woods without falling over backwards!!! My proudest accomplishment was finishing the Portland Marathon in 2005 at 250 pounds. I think my next proudest accomplishment will be dropping below 200!!! I can't wait!!! I am so glad not to be doing this alone. What a great group of people.

I agree that you should see your doc. I was banded on 11/12; and, at my first checkup with my internist (2 weeks later) my BP meds were cut in half. It's a fabulous side effect of banding, but one you should keep an eye on.

Ghost, Thanks for this interesting thread. Forgive me if this is already common knowledge, but just how big were your arms BEFORE your weight loss? Mine are 16 inches, and I am wondering whether you started with bigger or smaller arms than that. I KNOW I'll need a TT, but I am not sure about the arms. Do you know how big JulieNYC's arms were before weight loss? How about Chickee? Maybe we need a list (LOL) of pre- and post-weight loss arm measurements with a qualitative assessment of the resulting floppiness? Sorry, I am a fool for data. Thanks for all the sharing you folks do!

Marie, It sounds like you are doing GREAT!!! Just take it one day at a time and keep the goal in sight. If we knew the magic secret to turn off the cravings and change our relationships with food, none of us would be in the shape we are in now. Maybe you need to distract yourself when you feel the need to eat (when you are not supposed to)? Maybe you could tell yourself you could have a little snack, but first you have to drink a glass of Water and then wait 30 minutes. It's likely you would forget all about the urge by then. Who knows. It's not easy, but (with your band and the right attitude) you can do it. Shalee, We have the same band date. I had one week of full liquids and then 4 weeks of purees. I see my surgeon (in a different town) and get my fill on January 2. I hope he doesn't have a hangover. )

Jelbel, I say go for it. Ask someone if your breath is overpowering and use a breathmin if they say yes! I don't worry about the tahini, because I am eating such a small amount. I'd rather have a little bit of something scrumptious, than a lot of something that is mediocre. (Not saying that your homemade hummus isn't delicious....) Steph CN, Come on gal, buya small container (fresh from the health food store is best) and expand those horizons!!! Be brave. Your tongue will thank you.

I am 17 days out and am feeling really good. No pain or even discomfort. I posted on another thread that I went to my internist Tuesday, and he said that I can cut my BP meds in half and will probably be off them entirely in a few months. That is GOLD to me - even it I wasn't going to lose weight (which I am). I also FEEL much better than a month ago. I almost trot up and down the stairs and my knees feel great. I think that having so much less food to process has been a tremendous vacation for my internal organs. I am a happy gal with my grumbly tummy! I was going to start exercising this week, but will probably put it off until next week, because I caught a WICKED cold that has me feeling very puny and weak for the last day or so. Next week, I'll be leaping on the eliptical trainer.

Jelbel, Mmmmmm hummus. It is saving my life these last few weeks. I lick a spoonful like a lollipop. It takes me about 10 minutes and I have that fabulous garlicky-oily taste and texture in my mouth for a long long time. Very satisfying. I am probably knocking everyone onver with my garlic breath, but they are too kind to say so.

I guess I'm an odd duck. I told all my friends and family and many people at work. I am in a cubicle, and I very quickly got sick of trying to find an empty office to make "secret" phone calls. Heck, at least 20 people have "felt my port" and oohed over my superglued incisions. ) I have yet to have anyone be unsupportive. Some are neutral, but that's okay. I am glad I did it, because at least three people in my company have contacted me and wanted to know more, because it was something they were considering and were scared to try. They see me as a role model - who knew? The one rule I have is that I try not to volunteer information. Nothing is more boring to most people than listening to someone give the details of their latest medical procedure. If asked, I am happy to tell them whatever they want to know. I can even send them links to surgeries and to this website! I'm happily letting my freak flag fly!!

Glad you are doing well Bandpal. My incisions were superglued, so I didn't have to have anything removed. Staples sound like they would hurt! I like your description of the redeication of the temple. I think you are on the right track. I keep trying to think of eating now as giving little healthy gifts to my body, rather than drowning it in thoughtless junk. I have noticed such a difference in how I feeeeel inside, now that ingestion of food is not my primary concern. I am actually taking time to taste and feel what's in my mouth and heading down the hatch. It's a very "in the moment" experience.

Oh Yeah! Just got back from internist's office. I've had hypertension for 5 years. BP was high (150/100), even with meds. Now, after the two-week pre-op diet and 2 weeks of banding, my BP is 110/80. Zipadeedppdah!!! I get to cut my meds in half and doc says in another three months he doubts I will need them at all. I have a big stoooopid grin on my face!!! I love my band!!!:clap2:

I stayed overnight in the hospital, since I was banded out of town and had to be there to do the barium swallow anyway. I can't imagine going back to work the next day. I had surgery on Monday and had it very easy. No pain meds once out of recovery room. No shoulder pain. No nausea. But, I was very swollen with gas and sitting at my desk would have been tough. Also, had some "looseness" inside and would have hated to run to the ladies room. Yikes. By Thursday, I could have gone back, but I was worried I might catch one of the colds that was going around the office. I went in half a day on Friday and was back full time on Monday.

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Hee hee. We are the proud, the few, the spitters! If you do it delicately, no one knows, but the dog - and he's not talking.