AlysonRR

I'm definitely tired, but I'm not sure if it's because of the fill or because I went to bed at 1am and was woken at 5am by my daughter and couldn't get back to sleep.... I thought it might hurt, but it was just a prick - less painful than a vaccination, IMO. Hopefully we'll both feel more peppy soon!

B: Chai plus Bolthouse Vanilla Chai w/Protein L: Amy's Thai Coconut soup, strained D: EAS Advantage Chocolate mixed into Atkins Advantage Chocolate ready-to-drink shake plus peppermint Da Vinci syrup

I went for my first fill today, not really sure if the small piece of gum had passed through or not. I started on solid foods on the 16th and I could still feel it bouncing around when my stomach was empty. But after a couple days (including an English muffin and a piece of toast) I didn't feel the long thin gum. I did feel something, but not the same thing. So I thought maybe it had become a different shape? Anyway, today I went for my fill, and they pulled the priming liquid out (apparently they put a little in to rehydrate the band?) until they got air bubbles, then watched the flow on fluoroscope as I took a big swallow of barium. They couldn't see any disruption of flow, so in Dr Neal's opinion the gum is gone, and what I'm feeling is just a banding difference. So hurray, my gumwatch is done. I'm actually not going to chew it anymore - I'll switch to listerine strips or breath mints... Thanks again for all the support and advice!

I'm not sure about insurance companies, but an over-50 BMI person on another board said her doctor wouldn't do lap band for people with BMI over 60. My BMI was over 60 and my doctor didn't have any problems scheduling my surgery. I think the thinking behind not doing lap-band for high BMI patients is that the average patient that loses 50-65% of their excess weight would still be obese if they start out at a high BMI. I've seen quite a few people here with BMIs over 50 (I look for those over 60, and have seen them, too) and many have achieved a normal or "overweight" weight goal. I'm hoping I'll do better than average, too.

We just found Sushi Revolution in Tacoma, another new conveyor belt/pay-by-the-plate restaurant. We went last week, once before I was off mushies (I had lots of tofu in my miso soup) and once after I started solids. The second time I had 4 plates in front of me (I chose edamame, tamago, and the insides of four pieces of crab rolls). My 5-y.o. daughter had 7 plates (four of hers were cream puffs!) and my son, who is called "Sushi Boy!" at numerous local sushi joints, had twelve! Total cost was around $35 - gotta like that! One of my concerns about lapband was whether I would be able to enjoy sushi ever again - I'm glad to say I can!

In response to issues like this on another forum, a friend of mine wrote the following analogy (some phrases changed for applicability to this forum): I think tensions start not when someone adopts an opinion that differs, but when that person asserts that everyone should follow what they believe. For example, if I were to say that my DH and I choose to eat low on the food chain (more grains and vegetables, little meat, we're willing to pay more for food that's been raised organically and animals that have been given free range to roam and not injected with drugs and hormones to make them produce meat faster), because I believe this is better not only for our health, but for the planet, and if I quoted the studies supporting my view, we might have a good debate on economics vs ecology. However if I came in and stated that anyone who can't see the Truth about factory farming and continues to eat meat or buy food at Wal-Mart promotes cruelty, cares nothing about what's really important in life and is too hard hearted or deluded to understand the Truth, I expect I'd get called on the carpet--and rightly so. So it's not what you believe, but how you choose to express it. Sharing what you believe in a manner that respects the fact that others choose differently and debating the point is what this forum is all about; there are other forums for finding fellowship with people of similar beliefs. Claiming that there's only one acceptable and proper way to view things tends to lead to a lot of tension, because the folks who disagree will step in and say 'we see it differently.' We all have reasons for why we believe (or disbelieve) what we do. I was a Christian for over 25 years; I was a steady churchgoer from early childhood, brought up with Bible stories leading up to a personal commitment to Christ, and including 5 years of intensive Biblical and historical research. When I converse about Christianity that background is not gone just because I am now an atheist. We all use our accumulated experience to formulate responses here. That's what makes these types of forums interesting to me. Though I have (or have had) friends who are Christian, Pagan/Wiccan, Buddhist, Muslim, Jewish, Sikh, Hindu, agnostic, atheist, etc., there are subjects I would never discuss with some of them. In that sense, R&R-type forums are revelatory to me - I can question them to find out WHY they believe what they believe and I get to find out how someone with a different worldview sees things without the risk of losing a personal friend.

B: 1/2 c eggbeaters (omelet) with 2 oz herbed goat cheese L & D: probably protein drinks and/or soup - I'm pretty sure I'm getting my first fill today!

Hey, Cerrin - we're living parallel lives. We started at similar weights, were banded a day apart, I'm having my first fill today, too, and I haven't lost weight in several weeks. You're doing much better than I am with exercise (good for you!). I'm starting to do some weights and physical therapy exercises to strengthen the muscles around my arthritic knees and hips. But I'm also feeling much more energetic, and finding it easier to walk than I did just 30 pounds ago, so I'm excited about the future, imagining myself bouncing around with tons of energy by the time I get down 100 lb! Good luck with your fill today. I'm looking forward to finding out whether I've gained a little or held the same - I got a new scale and I've been +/- 5 lb on it, but I didn't get it til several weeks after my last doctor's appointment, so I have no idea how it compares. I'm also looking forward to possibly having a little restriction!

B: South Beach Diet chocolate cereal bar L: bean & cheese burrito D: teriyaki tofu

Here's my 108g Protein day today: Breakfast - 1/2 cup eggbeaters omelet plus 1/4 c cottage cheese lunch - 2/3 cup tofu with teriyaki sauce, 1/2 cup lettuce dinner - 5 oysters, 1/2 cup spinach, 2 T light mayo, 1 T dill relish Snack - Zensoy chocolate pudding cup It's higher in fat (47g) and carbs (77g) than I'd like, but I could have decreased it by reducing the teriyaki sauce, sauteeing the oysters instead of pan-frying, subbing nonfat sour cream for the light mayo, skipping the pudding cup. Most days I'm hitting 70g protein with less than 40g carb and less than 25g fat. If I had to regularly hit 100g I'd probably add a Protein shake snack...

Breakfast - 1/2 cup eggbeaters omelet plus 1/4 c cottage cheese Lunch - 2/3 cup tofu with teriyaki sauce, 1/2 cup lettuce Dinner - 5 fried oysters, 1/2 cup spinach, 2 T mayo, 1 T dill relish Snack - Zensoy chocolate pudding cup

I sat on one at work throughout both my pregnancies and I topped out at 327. They may have weight ranges on them - I know I saw ones that claim to be "burst proof" on Amazon when I was looking for a book for my mom (ended up with Exercise Balls for Dummies). SparkPeople has an online video workout for exercise balls - I haven't tried it. And they have lots of individual exercises for balls, too. Good luck! I'm doing some strengthening exercises starting this week, then I'll start working out in a couple weeks when I can be sure I'm not going to trash my already arthritic knees...

This is how I feel, as well.

Breakfast: 2 eggs and a piece of ezekial 4:9 bread Lunch: 6" low carb tortilla with 1 oz cheese & 2 oz deli turkey Snack: Atkins Cinnamon Bun bar Dinner: 1/2 c Fage Total greek yogurt, 1 tsp honey, 1/2 c Kashi GoLean cereal

Well, it's still there, but it's less uncomfortable than it was at first. I can almost forget it's there until I get dehydrated - then I can feel it bouncing around. I think that's the dangerous time - when I feel it I am compelled to work my throat/esophagus and I'm concerned that will pull too hard on the banded area and/or cause swelling. I really hope it goes down soon, or that the doctor will consider pulling it out - I don't think I can handle going through another month or longer like this... I'm scheduled for a visit on the 24th, so we'll see...

I don't know if it will pass or not - I'm not as far along as you - but there are other options for deep water aerobics. If you explained to the instructor s/he may have some ideas. I've done deep water aerobics with a pool noodle under my arms or with one or two noodles between my legs, or with dumbbells in both hands or under my arms. HTH!

I totally agree. Well said!

I started with the goal of going from almost 350 to under 225, because that's the weight my orthopedist said I needed to be for him to perform knee replacements on me. But seeing all the success here makes me want to reach higher, or um, lower, and try to reach get out of the obese range all together and into the overweight or normal BMI ranges. For me at 5'3" that would mean <170 and <141 respectively. I was around both those weights for at least a couple years and would be very happy to meet either goal. But honestly, I'd be thrilled to be under 225. I've noticed a difference in my energy level and a decrease in my knee and hip pain with just the amount I've lost so far, so I'm looking forward happily to more improvement.

Thanks for the continued support and ideas - I really appreciate it :-) I'll keep you posted!

I'm not that crazy about chocolate, but I pick chocolate over vegetable oil, lol. I did try to hack it up before I realized I might do more harm than good. I wonder if it would come up during a PB of another food? But I don't want to risk harming the band because of a tiny piece of gum...

I'm only 3 weeks post-op and the doc didn't put a fill in at surgery, so - unless I still have swelling - I'm as open as I'm going to be. I think it's a long skinny piece which means it has to go through vertically... (yes, Day 6 - still there :-( )

I'm still on mushies - here's what I had today: B = 1/4 c scrambled egg beaters, 1oz lowfat cheddar, 1/2 pkt quick grits L = 3/8 c Fage 0% fat greek yogurt mixed with 2 Tbs pesto flavored hummus S = Special K Protein Water D = 1/2 c tuna salad w/a wedge of light Laughing Cow mixed in S = Vanilla Chai protein drink + vanilla yogurt + half scoop of protein powder

Day 5 of Gumwatch - still there :-( Hot liquid didn't work, unfortunately. I can't feel it when my stomach is full of mushy food, so I think "ah, maybe it went down!" but then my stomach empties and it's still there, bouncing around... A couple times I've felt as though it was going down, but then I am compelled to cough and up it comes. I'm frequently working my tongue (like a cat with a hairball?) and swallowing. I think it was a long skinny shape when swallowed so I'm not sure how to encourage it to point down. I have an appt with the doctor again next week. I'm not sure if it's possible to remove it endoscopically, but if it's still there next week I'm certainly hoping so!

My surgeon put me on Medifast for two weeks before surgery (they paid for it, too!). Five of the Medifast meals a day plus a "lean + green" meal of 2 cups veg and 4-6 oz Protein. You could check and see if your doc things that would be a good substitute for his plan. For your situation it's ideal - it's mail order: Official Medifast Diet site | Quick, Easy Clinically Proven Weight Loss Good luck!

Does lactose count as sugar? I enjoy the True Lemon / True Lime flavoring packets in my Water. They're crystallized citrus with a tiny bit of lactose, and they're yummy. Good luck on your fast!