ReneBean

Woo Hoo!! Betty Rocks! She's Mod-riffic!

Get your fill and move forward. You have that option, so you should take it. Viva La Band!

I had to fight them for four months - and finally won on appeal when I took them to the State Insurance Board level... Fight them. The Heart problem is just that much more reason why you need the darned surgery. Insurance companies suck. Fight!

Yeah - without restriction you are going to be hungry. Prior to getting good restriction - I tried to eat proper bandster meals - but I would bulk up the amount with raw veggies and some low-cal, low carb dip. You can eat a lot of veggies for not much calorie content - it's just the dip you need to watch out for. I have never been a snacker - but if I got hungry, I had an Atkins shake to keep from being too starving. Raw veggies would work as a snack, too - if Protein shakes are repulsive to you. For meals - I just eat regular food - grilled chicken breasts, steak, whatever with veggies. My husband does most of the cooking - so I just eat whatever he eats in a bandster way - Proteins first, then veggies, then carbs. Pre-restriction I ate a normal person portion. Now that I have restriction I eat a lot less. For instance - We had steak and a Pasta side dish the other night. The steaks were 1" thick tenderloins - about 4" circles. I ate less than 1/2 the steak and a few bites of pasta. (Less than 1/2 cup pasta.) I took the other half and another scoop of pasta for lunch - and couldn't eat it all... so once you get restriction, true solid foods will fill you up FAST. Now, last night we had pork in curried lentils...a nice mushy consistency with little chunks of meat and veggies. Lentils are not a true solid - so I did eat more of them than I should. I ate less than 2 cups of the lentil/pork mixture cause it was SOOOO good. If I am feeling strong, I usually stop at one cup. With the steak, I HAD to stop. With the lentils, I didn't HAVE to stop, but I chose to stop at under 2 cups. It's all about what you choose to eat. I know the amount that I am eating because I got special bowls that only HOLD 2 cups if they are filled right up to the brim. If I fill halfway, it is approx. 1 cup. Willpower is still required... it's just easier, now. As long as I don't eat more than a normal skinny chick would eat, I feel that I have done OK - even when I eat more than a bandster should. I am not in any particular hurry - I took most of my pounds off by exercising and eating more veggies and less carbs. Now that I have restriction, the pounds are coming off, anyway, even though I have been less than diligent about exercise for the last month. Just be sure to get enough protein, take your Calcium supplements and Vitamins and drink enough Water. I wouldn't stress TOO much about how much you are eating until you get some restriction. Hugs!

Hey Folks 1) Unless you have eaten to the point of being very full regularly - I wouldn't worry too much about pouch stretching. Stretching would indicate that you had restriction and kept eating - it would probably hurt each time you did... 2) The number of fills - meaningless. Even the number of cc's of fill is pretty meaningless - unless your doc has put in more than your band will hold PLUS the amount that your port tubing will hold, you still have room for more... I have an 11 cc band with 9.2 cc's. That is approx 84% capacity. I didn't feel like I had any restriction until I hit about 75% capacity... If each of you has a 4cc band you are at approx. 63 & 66 percent capacity. Don't fret.... there is plenty of room - and the next fill might be enough to catapult you into the world of good restriction. Hang tough. It will all come together. Try to remember that this is not a race. Practice chewing and taking small bites and following all the rules - cause you may need them after the next fill. :]

You may have to give up BREAD - cause fluffy white bread turns into a gluey mass and gets stuck... but I enjoy a corn tortilla or some lovely Beans or lentils every so often... Protein first then veggies THEN - if there is room - carbs. Good luck!

Well, at least the results are ready. Can your doc fix the hernia while he is in there placing the band?

Basements and underground shelters are bad in a flash flood - something we get lots of here in TX - which may be why folks here don't have them. If you feel the need for something - go with a safe room - above ground... :]

Probably it was both drinking too fast and gas, combined. In terms of being "full" - don't go there. You don't really want to be "full" anymore. What you want is to be "Not Hungry" I have found that "full" only happens after I have eaten far, far more than I should. "Not Hungry" happens much sooner. The Trick is to stop eating when you begin to feel "not hungry" instead of pushing on and trying to get "full". I know from experience that "full" can happen - but it only happens for me when I have eaten enough to fill my pouch AND the lower stomache. Not the plan, if you know what I mean. Not full happens pretty quickly. These days, I try to plate up just a small, small portion and eat that. If I am "Not Hungry" afterward, I don't eat anymore. Hope this helps. **Oh - and letting yourself get hungry or "starving" is a very bad idea. When you are "starving" you eat too fast and/or you eat too much. If you need to eat more than three times a day - that is ok. Just have planned, healthy Snacks available and roll it all into your calorie count. Good Luck!

Hugs Laurend. We are all thinking good thoughts for you! A firm phone call to your docs office might be in order. Explain that you need those test results NOW. Good Luck!

Congrats & keep up the great work! I love that I can wear so many more of my old clothes, now. I actually went through and purged out the old 5x sizes last week... The Leukemia Society loves me, these days. :]

I make my own Protein Water - more protein for less calories. 1 tube New whey 42 grams by IDS (Orange flavor) . 176 calories (approx $2.50 per tube depending on where you buy it) 1 20 oz propel with Calcium. (Mandarin Orange flavor) 20 calories. mix in 1 liter bottle and add filtered tap water to fill the 1 ltr. 42 grams of protein for 196 calories - PLUS I get extra B Vitamins & calcium. If you stack up against the Special K - it is far superior. 5 grams of protein for 50 calories for special K. 40 grams of protein would be 400 calories.... and at 1.99 a bottle it costs 16 bucks to get that. My water is less than $4.00 - if you buy the propel by the individual bottle. If you get it by the flat at Sams, like I do - then the homemade stuff is a great deal. I strongly recommend the Orange flavor over the Fruit Punch. I haven't tried any other flavors besides those. You can get the protein at http://www.dpsnutrition.net/get_by_79.htm If you take 42 grams of protein in your water throughout the day, getting the rest of your required protein is a snap. Good Luck!

Hi All. Not much going on here, today. Same Ol'. I think I will study for the Basic Skills test, today - since I have to actually get into the program before I can get certified. I need to get into the program and THEN get fluent in Spanish, again. And DANG it has been an awfully long time since 1983 - there is a lot of high school stuff that I don't remember. The local community college offers Spanish 1, 2 & 3 in sections between May & August - so I am going to take all three, if I can work them into my schedule. The classes for the Teacher program start on August 14th - so I might be able to do them all. Dianne - I would be happy to send you some roots &/or seeds. It's EVERYWHERE. I have a couple of bushes that I like in darker pink & purple - but the generic light pink stuff is all over the place... tough and un-killable. It doesn't help at all that I am allergic to the stupid stuff. If I get a nice tender shoot, I will wrap it in most paper towel and ship it to you. :] Oh, and I would go to the meeting, too. You can decide to talk or not when you hear what is said. Hope the boob thing is just uneven swelling... Hugs! Cindy - we are waiting to find out when Kat is actually coming to Texas - we know it's soon - but not exactly when. My plan is that you, me and Betty can meet up somewhere and make a run toward the West on I20 while Kat comes East. We can meet up somewhere for coffee or lunch or whatever - just to meet up. Hopefully, this would be on a Saturday or Sunday - but I could easily take a vaction day, if needed. Are you up for a road trip? Mandy - how is Abi doing? How fares the beautiful Queen? Hope all is well in your Kingdom. Hugs! Pat - Sorry, Hon. I do everything I can think of not to lose posts, and I still do, sometimes. I am not sure what y'all are talking about with the fonts... I have had no change in mine. Well - I am off to take the sample test to see just how much stuff I have forgotten in the last 24 years... UGH! 24 years~! eek! Love you guys!

You can tough it out for two days - but if you are dying - get an Atkins shake. While still liquid, they are pretty filling. Just remember - keep your eyes on the prize - and stay strong. You need an empty digestive tract when you hit the table - it makes it easier for you after the fact - since BM's would be painful immediately after surgery and for a couple of days after. Trust me - any movement that involves your abdomen will be unpleasant for the first 2-3 days after. Hang Tough.

Hola, Chicas! Estoy muy cansada y voy a la casa... It has been a very long day of getting paid to hang out on LBT and study Spanish and of trying not to nod off at my desk. :] I am very tired and I am going home..... Sherry - hope the fill helps - but you know you have to exercise... sad but true. The med change can't be helped - but the exercise can. Of course, I am a fine one to talk. I am going to log at least SOME miles in April! Eileenie - Hugs! Hope your back feels a little better. Enjoy the 4 day weekend! Betty - At least you are maintaining.... when you can get into the pool and do some exercises, you will be able to knock a couple of more pounds off... Better to wait than to damage your back or foot any more! Well, I am off to the grocery store - and if I don't get out of there too late, maybe I will drag my exausted butt to the gym... but maybe not! xo TTL

I am pretty sure I haven't worn a bikini since I was about 6.... and probably won't every wear one, even if I get down to a size 4 - cause I scar easily and have really ugly skin. Now, a cat-suit - that might happen. Meow!

Asparagus works - but only if you get the really young, thin stalks... and then cut them off about halfway up. I love the stuff and refuse to give it up - but you have to get the most tender shoots and then chew them really well. Good Luck and Happy Veggies...

Pre-natals might even be overkill - since we absorb all the nutrients from our food. I switch between children's chewables and Centrum. Childrens chewables are great - cause if you have eaten a lot of food, or had Protein shakes that have 50% of your daily Vitamin value, then you can just take one... You CAN od on some Vitamins - so don't take too many of anything. Good luck with the protein... I tried unflavored unjury powder and found it repulsive - but a lot of people seem to like that one. Try to get small quantities of anything until you know what you like and how it works for your life. Hugs!

I have to admit that once I did actually re-schedule and dedicate myself to getting back on plan. But only once. If you have gained weight because you need another fill, it just doesn't make any sense to not go in and get one. My Doc has given me "the look" and I survived to tell the tale. Hugs!

Now that you know there is no exclusion on your policy - it is time to talk to a surgeon. The surgeon's office will know all the "stuff" that you need to get. The insurance company makes the determination as to whether bariatric surgery is "medically necessary" and therefore covered by your policy. In order to get them to make that determination, you need a letter from your PCP and several pre-op tests packaged and forwarded to them. See your surgeon - or whoever helps him get his patients approved by Insurance. They will guide you on your way. Good Luck!!!

I know exactly how that feels... I didn't get much restriction until I went to 8.8 cc's and now, at 9.2 I feel pretty good. It has nothing to do with the number of fills - but with how your Dad actually feels. I did a couple of things to keep on moving, though. 1) I got small bowls. I got these bowls that only hold 2 cups. That seems surprisingly small after a normal bowl - and I never fill them all the way up. 2) I exercised. 3) I ate as slowly as I could and chewed everything practically to liquid - even when I didn't have the best restriction. 4) I ate as many solid Proteins as I could and avoided mushy stuff like chili or cottage cheese. solid food fills you up faster - even with less than perfect restriction. So, has Dad been PB'ing? Does his doc fill under flouro? or Blind? I had about 6-7 fills before I got any restriction - but that was under flouro - they were fairly agressive with them, since they could "see" what was going on in there. If there is a fill center in your town - maybe you could take Dad there for an adjustment. As far as not being able to eat more than a cup? For me, that's a load of nonsense. I CAN still eat pretty much anything in pretty large amounts - but I am not COMPELLED to do so. I don't really ever get "full" - but I try (and I stress TRY) to stop eating when I no longer feel hungry. There is a world of difference between "full" and "not hungry". So, get Dad on the treadmill, bike or elliptical, and get him another fill - preferably under flouro. Don't panic about the number of fills - or even about a month with no weightloss. How much has he lost since surgery? Lots of folks report a plateau at about 50-60 lbs... it may just be his body adjusting to the new size. Try not to bother him too much about what or how much he is eating. Nagging, even loving, gentle nagging, only makes it harder to do what he has to do. Hugs!!

Howdy, All. Another glorious day in Mtg lending... DH & I spent yesterday doing yard work... the weeds are all mowed and I spent some time digging up the volunteer and squirel planted trees... That stinking Crepe Myrtle is the very devil. It grows from seed, AND the existing plants spread systemically - the roots are everywhere. ARRRRGH! I was able to get a couple of them completely out - roots and all - and I tamed the remaining bushes until I have the energy to go out and battle them again. Once a yard gets away from you, here, you might as well just get a flame thrower... it's nuts how awful my lawn is. Maybe I will put in a BIG patio..... So, today, every muscle in my back, butt & legs is SCREAMING every time I move. Nothing like spending several hours bent at the waist, pulling weeds and roots... *sigh* I guess I need to do yard work more frequently, eh? I think we are going to dedicate a day per weekend - at least that's what we are saying today... But you know how that goes. :] Kat - you won't get VERY lost... highway 20 is pretty easy to follow - and if we meet you part way, you won't even have to come into the big city. I am very excited. Now, when are you coming? I took about a minute of French - and I can fake it on the pronunciation - but it was too confusing to learn two languages that are SO similar. It messed me up with both languages pronunciation... so I dumped the French and devoted myself to Spanish. Mandy - I think I would have been quite surprised if "Flushed Away" DIDN'T have any toilet humor... it would seem to be expected in that particular film. Obviously I haven't been keeping up with my kid movies. I haven't seen any of these, yet. Chris - Don't worry too much about making any decisions regarding Andy... I think, in the end, you will find any decisions to be made are pretty obvious. Don't overthink it - just go with the flow and enjoy. Hugs! Eileenie - how awful to hear about such a horrid thing on a day dedicated to jokes! Hugs! So, how do you score a 4 day week? Did you take Good Friday off? Does your company give it as a Holiday? Spring has sprung, here, too. My peonies have big ol' pink buds on them. I should have flowers in the next day or two. LOVE peonies. St. Sherry - I think I like that... LOL! Sorry about the weight gain... Do you need a fill? Or have you just been eating around the band? I find my self eating more than I need on a pretty regular basis... which explains the fact that my scale is not budging from 287. *sigh* So, you are a Rieki Master, now... can you focus your Rieki energies toward weightloss? Or is that more of a spirit vs body thing? Betty - it truly was a fabulous day to be outside, yesterday, too. The sun was shining and it was lovely warm - but not scorchy at all. Ahhhh. Dianne - lol! Wouldn't THAT be something... AF Day passed me by, thankfully! I don't like practical jokes very much... and I am not in any mood to be surprised, these days. Hope that swelling goes down, soon. I know you are anxious to see what "the girls" will look like once they are at their normal size. Hugs!!! Cindy - MMMMMMmmmmm - crab cakes! Love those things... I would probably eat more than one... you are so good! I am going to have to try this "chess pie" stuff one of these days. It sounds so yummy! Darcy - if you skip exercise for an entire month, does that make you an exercise virgin, again? *sigh* OK - ZERO miles for March... so my YTD total remains 38 miles. How pathetic. Patty - HUGS!! I am glad DM is there to help out. I wouldn't fret TOO much... it will take the boys most of their vacation to figure out how to get into too much trouble... :] Hopefully, anything they get up to won't be permanently damaging. Well, I have lots more Spanish to study... I can't remember future or past tense verb forms, at ALL - so right now I speak a very limited version of pigeon spanish. Not so good if I want to teach the stuff. Back to the books! Hugs & Love to All!

You should be just fine by May 26th. Most people feel better after a week - almost everyone I have ever read here indicated they were well after 2 weeks. Good Luck - and Congrats on your DS's graduation!

Congrats, Becca! Hope tomorrow is even easier. Hugs!

Hi Bernie! Welcome to Band Land! I hope you are feeling well and following your Doc's diet. We are all thinking good thoughts for speedy healing and strong willpower. Hugs!