Poodles

Hey, has anyone that was filled last week notice their restriction going away. Today I could eat way too much. Have heard about first fills "disappearing" but don't know if that is it or not...

Mert: I have a funny story about BCBS TRS Activecare. I am switching school districts and wanted to make sure there would be no lapse in coverage. I called BCBS and spoke to a woman about it. When I told her why (because of my followup/fills) she started asking me a ton of questions. (And I told her about this site). She is in the middle of her 12 month supervised diet right now. I thought, how weird, they do this junk to their own people too. Good luck getting your surgery date. I hope you can get it in before summer is over!!!!

Discipline is the hardest part. I teach 9-12 grade, last year taught business and art, next year will be full time art. Keep rules to 5 or under. Mine are: 1. Be in your seat when the bell rings 2. Bring all supplies to class 3. No food or drink in class 4. Respect each other, materials, and art work 5. Follow all school rules. I tell them day one about the rules, and stress the word RESPECT in rule #4. I tell them about my self, give them a short resume if you will, so they will know I am not an idiot. I tell them that they are all "perfect little angels" until they prove other wise. I don't care what they do in so-in-so's room, I don't want to know if they have recently been released from prison. I live in my own little world and they are welcome into it. I have had gang members come into my class and produce awesome work, then they would come back again for another year. I will let anyone that wants to into my groups, and I have had the roughest kids watch my back for me, while at the same time stealing other teachers heart medicine (that really happened). Pick your battles wisely. Don't send everyone to the office. Give sentences... they hate that. (ex: I will use appropriate language in the hallways.) If they don't do the sentences, give them a detention and make them do the sentences. I have had a student in ISS that owed me 250 sentences for cussing and failure to serve their detention. At the end of the day, I had my sentences. Make sure your principal will back you up on that though. This approach works for me, but may not work for some. You also have to know the kid. I had one kid come into my room every morning to avoid the cafeteria. If he acted up in class, I would not let him come in to my room. This was VERY effective punishment for him. You can search a variety of different websites for lesson plans, but the best ones will be the ones you make up yourself. Your confidence will show when you have made your own. The best evaluations I have received have been with the lessons I made myself. I have been in the classroom for 8 years, and the best advice I can give you is to not get too attached, love them like they were yours, and never forget the lessons they teach you.

Keep in mind after you are banded, NO more capsules...

Here is the link to the powder. The Health Plus brand is the best one I have found. It does not hurt you (gas) and it works very quickly. http://www.vitaminshoppe.com/store/en/browse/sku_detail.jsp?id=HQ-1007

Marc, Welcome to the board. I understand your feelings and want you to know that you have come to the right place. In the world of love, I believe, every fat person feels like they are unwanted, but there are different types of people out there that have different preferences. My hubby married me, because he is a chubbychaser. We have been married 12 years, and I am scared he will leave me if I get too small. But because of health reasons he says he will chance it. I have researched all weight loss surgeries, and have been on every diet in the world. This was the best option for me. I was scared to death, even to the point of wanting to cancel the surgery, but I realized that I HAD to do this or die. The surgery went much easier than I thought it would and the recovery has been a breeze. I now have a fill and am amazed at how little food it takes to fill me up. Although I have only lost 15 pounds, it is still more than I would have lost in a month before. I totally understand the looking in the mirror thing. I think to myself sometimes that the size 10 cheerleader has been eaten by a big fat monster, but then I think that she is in there somewhere. Even though I know I will never see "her" again, I am looking forward to discovering the healthy person within me now. You are obviously a caring person, and I wish you true happiness. Be brave, trust your decision, and begin taking care of yourself. :love:

Well, I use Super Colon Cleanse by Health Plus they have it on sale at vitamin shoppe stores and online. You can also check out healthplus.com. http://www.vitaminshoppe.com/store/en/browse/sku_detail.jsp?id=HQ-1003 Or for powder: http://www.vitaminshoppe.com/store/en/browse/sku_detail.jsp?id=HQ-1007 I use the full dose when I know I am going to be home the next morning (and I use the powder not the capsules, just mix it with water hold my breath and down it. It has a peppermint flavor.), and I use just a little each day to keep me regular. But I promise if you take it at lunch on Friday, and then again at dinner, by Monday you will be lighter. And I usually feel better too. Good luck!

Yeah Randi don't compare yourself to others. It will drive you nuts. I was just thinking about counting calories today to try and see what I am getting in, but then I though forget that, I am eating slower and less than before so why count calories? I have not lost as fast as others, but then I do not have as much as some to lose. You need to think about your life before the band. Would you have lost those 10-15 lbs with out it? Your new little friend will help you out, and believe me it will let you know when you have overdone it. I have learned that gound meat and ground chicken are good choices. Non ground meat just does not work for me right now. Guess I am letting the grinder help with the chewing. I am so proud of all of you/us. We are right on track. :love:

Uhmmm, not to recommend anything unhealthy or anything... but a good colon cleanse would help get a few pounds out...

Some people are restricted with just the band. My stalkee, Jack, did not get a fill for several months post op. Today I have had a 6" sub from Subway, without the bread, one taco from Taco Bell, and Beans and cheese, and 1/2 an Isopure shake. I think that is restriction, what about you? I know they were not the best choices, but we were out all day...

I felt better about 5-6 days out. My port still hurt for about 3 weeks, but I would have been able to get back to work after a long weekend if I had to. Guess it depends on what kind of job you have.

Congrats on the weight. I do believe it was swelling that went down, I felt the same way. You want the liquids to go down with no problems. You can try the Protein from unjury everyone mentions to get protein in. I use Isopure shakes in the AM and eat the rest of the day. Or do 1/2 of one in the AM and 1/2 for a snack later in the day. They have 40 grams of protein. You do need to count the calories, but they have zero carbs, and taste really good when you blend it with cold coffee and ice. (both the chocolate and vanilla ones) Welcome to band land! You will do fine!

I am a recent member of bandland, and have found that all the good carb stuff goes thru rather easily, but today I had a can of tuna, and a basil chicken sausage from Sprouts. I took the case off and it went down fine! Figure ground chicken would be about the same. For sweets I do Carbwatch ice cream from Braums.

Are you guys getting your fills under flouro???

Had my first fill on Tuesday, and ate the same amount of liquids and mushies. Thought for sure I was not restricted. Then I started solids today. Literally quite full with 1/4 cup of chili. Just ate a Jello pudding cup to take my meds, and I'm miserable. My advice is to wait until you are on solids before you give up on your fill. :love:

Oh well... if Jack is in it I must go see it. Forget Orlando and Johnny... Jack is the MAN!!!!

I feel so bad for you. I have been reading on Obesityhelp.com about the other WLS and know the frustration you must feel. They all look so weird. If I had to choose, I would do the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy . Simply because it just removes the stomach and does not reroute anything else. This line also interested me: "Patients interested in Gastric Banding may also want to consider this procedure, since it avoids the foreign body issue of a Band." http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/VSG/about.html I wish you peace in whatever decision you make.

My fill has kicked in already on liquids and mushies. I can no longer finish a full can of soup, so heaven help me tomorrow. I am going to eat 2 bites of tuna fish salad and see how that does for lunch tomorrow. Figure I will keep my shake first thing, since I was tight in the morning before my fill. I am so excited. I told my hubby that I feel like my life begins tomorrow. My new banded eating life. My new cheer: :cheer2:Protein first, veggies second, carbs last. 1/2 cup only! chew! chew! chew!

Ok, this may be a stupid question, but here goes: How long should you wait to go swimming after surgery. I figure it is like a bath right? So two to three weeks? What have your doctors said?

So I have read, and read, and read about fills... but I still don't know how to tell if you need one. I will be 5 weeks out and still in the "mushie/soft solid" stage then. Sometimes I feel as if I am restricted now (due to swelling), but other times everything goes thru and then some. I figure this is due to not being on solids yet. Yet at the same time think we are to chew until the mushie stage anyway right??? So how do you know? Right after being banded, I was terribly restricted, and not hungry but now I am not restricted and eating way more than I think I should be. But I am not on solids yet. If I am not on solids then, how will I know if I need a fill? and just an FYI... I will have my first fill under floro..

Well, I got my first fill today. They made me swollow the stuff and they put in .6 cc in my 4 cc band. The picture was quite nice. Said that this is a good first fill. I hope so. Go back in 4 weeks for another one!

Had my first fill this morning! Yeah! It is really easy and the worst part was the stupid sting of the numbing medicine. My fill center says nothing solid to eat 4 hours before, nothing to drink 1 hour before, then liquids for 48 hours and back to normal foods. I am so excited! Good luck to those about to get a fill... and don't worry.. it is so easy!

Went for my follow up today and got my first fill! I now have .6 cc's in my 4cc band. They showed me my little picture and boy am I restricted. They said that they wanted to go slow on the fills since this is my first one, but I think it is wonderful. The "hole" is just about the size of a pencil. My fill did not hurt, and it did not take me much time at all. I am so excited. Dr. B says to see him in 9-12 months, get another fill 4 weeks from now and then three months after that (or when I need one). I have lost 14 lbs without a fill, and he says that is great!

"but the reality is I have to know it's going to take time"-Leila Hey... speaking of reality. How have you guys/gals delt with the reality of not depending on food anymore. I literally want to cry... grieve my loss. I don't want to be a downer or anything... but was wondering if I was the only one thinking this way? This reality has finally set in. Yeah I want to lose weight and be healthier, but I am losing the only thing in my life that has been constant... old demons I guess.... So am I weird or is this usual newbie stuff???

Have an appointment tomorrow and will have him check out my incisions from the band and the hernia operation. I am two weeks out from the hernia operation. My baby went in the pool by himself today, and had fun without me. He is growing so quickly... he is tall enough to go down the big slide at the waterpark now. Thank you for all of the input. Wish there was a clear answer for this, but seems, as with the band, different doctors say different things.