SpecialK

Well I'm in the mushies stages now and it sure feels good to have a variety of foods to taste. I still have some mental image problems with only putting a 1/2Cup in a bowl and thinking it will be enough to satisfy. I've caught myself doing 1 Cup instead but then as I'm eating very slowly, thinking, I might have been able to just do 1/2Cup if I was 'trusting' myself more. Interesting mental journey here but I'm thankful to be down about another 1.5 lbs since the last weigh in. See my surgeon for my first post op appt this coming Friday. I did get to the gym 3 times in the past week. Started with just 15 minutes on a recumbent exercise bike, felt embarrassed and gave up. Then went back 2 days later, did a treadmill for 20 minutes and the recumbent bike for 10 minutes and was so proud of myself. Then overnight, felt sore and was going to give myself an excuse not to go back but said, I need to keep going, I need the exercise and was able to do 25 minutes on the treadmill at a little slower speed and 10 minutes on the recumbent bike so that is a big victory to me more than the 1.5 lbs is getting my butt into the gym three times this week. So for all of us big BMI folks, we just have to hold our head up and not worry about all those crazy fitness skinnies and weight lifters in the gym, those running on the treadmill, etc. and just start slow and do what we can and maybe one day we'll be the envy of the others in the gym! LOL

I put a Tablespoon of creamy peanut butter in a Chocolate Protein Shake and added ice to the Blender and that sure helped my craving for chocolate and peanut butter without doing something crazy.

AP band for me.

I'd recommend you try to go to the USA Local Support groups thread, under California and then see if there are any other folks in nearby areas that would chat with you and maybe they'd be support for you. Good luck!

Hi Rae! Come on over to the 2008 March Bandsters group and join in the chat on the MASTER thread where everyone banded in March is sharing their experience and progress!

Sufina - welcome. I have found it very helpful to be tied into the local lapband patients in my area so I went under USA Local support groups thread, to my Ohio thread, and then we have all kinds of various groups by the major cities and areas in Ohio and as a result of chatting in that area, we actually formed a local support group that meets at a mall once a month and involves only lapband patients since we found each of our surgery centers had about 90% Gastric Bypass and 10% lapband patients (or about that split) and we wanted to just have lapband support specifically so it has worked out great for us. The second group on the website I've found great support through is once you have a band surgery date, mine was March 17, I found tremendous support from the people having surgery at the same time as me, going through the same fears and cheers about going to the hospital, initial diet post op, etc. So that is under Band surgery dates and then it splits by Year and then by Month of surgery. Third group I've found some support through is whether you have alot to lose or just a certain amount to lose, there are groups for those by weight loss categories so if you have alot to lose, you'll need support from those who understand you're in it for the long haul because its not going to come off in just 6 months or even a year if your BMI is over 40 or 50. Hope this helps.

Christine -- now that you kicked yourself -- give yourself a hug because you've done something wonderful for yourself and its going to be fantastic in the long run, short run we'll all have bumps in the road. Have a good day and SMILE!

Just wanted to encourage everyone with a hug and say I wish I could be there in person to give you a hug but this will have to do until I can see you hopefully April 12. I hope all the payroll and work excuse/permission to return to work things get resolved ASAP! :cursing:

Melissa Webb RN 614-234-2052

Niki and Sue -- Not getting a paycheck due to paywork issues is major so I'm so sorry for you and not getting a call back when you are worried just adds to worry. I'll keep praying that things work out and get better from here. :cursing::redface::redface: Hugs to both of you!

Courtenay - by the Macy's store entrance that faces Hayden Run Rd. versus the other side of Macy's faces I-270. The time is 2-4pm. Glad to have you join us.

We're up to 174 now!!! WOW... we have lots of bandster brothers and sisters!!

I just realized I should have suggested you calling Melissa Webb,RN and bariatric coordinator for Mt. Carmel and share your concerns with her too. I found her very good at listening to my concerns. I got her voicemail when I called but she did call me back the same day or next day and spent time talking with me and then had the office manager from Mid Ohio Surgical Associates call me to talk with me the next day when I was trying to get through all the insurance approvals process.

I wonder if some of what we are feeling is a post-surgery let down emotionally that we all want results FAST and each bump in the road is so hard to ride over. My best advice is to talk to your own surgeon in person and be very honest with them about how you feel. I don't see Dr. Price until next Friday but I will share the concerns I have been hearing. I'm doing fine but I really feel for those who are struggling. I will begin praying daily for peace and healing for all of us. Take care. Kathy

I'm a user of the Unflavored Unjury and I don't think it alters the taste and consistency of what I've added it to.

What I was told was that the Fashion Show is bariatric patients who have achieved their goal or substantial weight loss and the Mall stores, maybe Macy's since the show is outside there? - help dress the folks in stylish clothing and do their hair/makeup to really accent how nice they look now and that they have a slide show or a presenter, maybe Melissa Webb, the bariatric coordinator for Mt. Carmel, that tells the person's story of their weight loss, motivation, etc. I was told by a couple who attended last year it was very touching to see. So, I'll plan to head to Tuttle but if you all want to still have a group at Polaris I'm cool with that too. Directions to Tuttle aren't that much harder than Polaris IMHO... I-270 West to the Tuttle Crossing Exit. You can see the mall on the left from the freeway. If they are coming from the South, like Cincinnati, they'd take the west leg of 270North and again, they'll see an exit for Tuttle Crossing. If they are taking I-71 like coming to Polaris, they just continue south on 71 until 270 and go West until you get to the Tuttle Crossing exit.

I got the Bio Oil at CVS pharmacy in the hand/body lotions section. They also had Vitamin E cream which I hear helps heal skin too.

Just updating that the Mt. Carmel Bariatric Style Show is at TUTTLE MALL not Polaris mall on April 12th from 2-4pm in front of the Macy's entrance at the Hayden Run side. I've posted under the Central Ohio Get Together the same info so we hopefully don't leave anyone stranded sitting at Polaris that day. Thanks and hope you'll enjoy it. I was told last year's show was really inspirational to see how far those patients have come - the mall stores help dress and do makeup on the 'new' looks for the patients.

Sue - sorry to hear you're having a port incision problem. Have you tried cleaning with an antibacterial soap like Dial and/or using Neosporin on it? I wouldn't wait until they get you in. By the way, I'm trying a product called Bio Oil I found discussed under the scars thread and I think its helping - my incisions look really good. On the eating front, I tried about 1/2C of some baked beans yesterday and just mashed them with my spoon and they were real tasty. Just another mushies idea for folks.

Just a quick update here for the Mt. Carmel bandsters -- the Bariatric Patients Style Show is at Tuttle Mall not at Polaris Mall. It is April 12th from 2-4 pm in front of the Macy's Hayden Rd entrance. I've posted under the Central Ohio get together that was planned for April 12th for us to shift and meet at Tuttle Mall instead. Hope we can see each other there.

Well I have a little wringer to throw into the mix -- can we switch to meet at TUTTLE MALL off I-270 and Tuttle Crossing as I just found out today that the Style Show for bariatric patients is at Tuttle Mall, by the Hayden Run area of Macy's store from 2-4 pm!! We could just switch locations and see each other there instead of Polaris. Sound okay???

BrandNewLisa - are you home from the hospital yet? Let us know how you're doing!

On the mushies - I thought that very refined foods that take minimal chewing qualified for the mushies - I didn't think it had to be liquid-y! I'm doing cottage cheese, mashed potato, applesauce, and ham salad! Anything that has any texture I chew, chew, chew to be sure. Doing fine on very small quantities eating about a baby spoon bite at a time.

If some of you haven't found it yet, I made a new thread and put all the March Bandsters surgery dates in it. 80+ and counting!! http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f114/march-2008-bandster-dates-57036/

I'd like to hear any Mushies recipes or things that you guys have tried that really hit the taste buds. I'm a little worried about starting to eat real food again and see a temporary gain but I know that others have said that's just part of the adjustment phase. See you all on the 12th!