Poodles

Beware of being overfilled as well, and always measure your food so that you do not overeat. Mushies will go thru, but will still stretch your band. In fact, the lady said that water will stretch you out if you are overfilled, so drink slow too...

Oh when mother nature is near, I slam shut. Three days before I start, I can not eat a thing. But, the Witch is gone for now, so that can not be it...

Well, this is what I have had today. I think I am too tight. B: Shake Lunch: 2 small bites of beans w/sour cream Dinner: 2 bites (small) pork chop I am ready to throw my hands up and quit.

Well, odd things here too. I drank a shake this morning and it felt "stuck", then for lunch I took two bites of SOUP and it got stuck. Felt light headed and had to sit down at 2 oclock in class, so I thought it might be my sugar, so I broke out my "emergency" apple sauce, took one bite and bang... I was stuck. (Most horrible feeling being stuck while in class.) But, no body noticed. Then after school I went and had my taxes done, came home and tried some soup again, and it went down fine. Well, we did have a new moon on the 19th, and time changed for us in TX this past week. Or, maybe the polar caps melting has changed the gravitational pull of the tides and our bands are acting up because of it. (I watch too many movies.) Or, maybe this is how it is suppose to be... confusing.

Old habits die hard. One week in and I have resorted to soft foods again. Everything else hurts. Even fish hurts now. How long do you think I need to give it before I go for an unfill?

Let me explain. I have a hard time getting pregnant. It took 4 years and a heck of a lot of meds to get my son, now 8. Since his birth we have been trying to conceive, with no results. My sister, who is fertile Mertile with 3 of her own, has offered to conceive and have my husbands baby for me. Her egg, her womb, her pregnancy. I am so tempted to do this, but she is bi-polar which scares me. I know it runs in families, we have the same mom, but different dads. They say there is a 20% chance that the kid will have the disorder when it hits early 20's and I have the same risk factor since I think my mom may have been bi-polar. So in my mind, I am thinking my egg or hers has the same risk factor. We look alike, and all her kids look like my son (except darker, she married a hispanic man). What would you do?

Ok, I busted out laughing at the top post. Basically, my interpretation is, "It tastes like crap, but it will go down, and if I put more crap on top of it is slides down better." Oh how sad it is when we resort to yucky stuff just because it works... (*** I have done it too***)

Being banded, and hearing the horrors of grape skins, I would recommend taking the skin off. I usually (pre band) sliced it 1/4 inch thick, breaded and fried it. YUM. Or, dice it and boil it with tomato/onion... that is good too.

Wanting to make sure this is ok. Don't want to be overfilled again, but just need reassurance that this is what is suppose to be like. Drank my shake for breakfast... little slow at first but all went down. At 2:30 I started feeling hungry so I made my favorite tofu. It did not go down, so I mixed it with some broth/cheese to make it my favorite way... yes I know we are not suppose to eat mushies... but anyway. I ate about 4 bites of it, I am guessing 2 oz. and I am full. Got that "if you take another bite its gonna hurt" feeling so I stopped. One hour later I am still full (but want to eat). I am not going to, because I am full... but wanted to make sure this is ok, not overfilled, and normal. Anyone have an opinion?

By golly I think I've got it!!!! I had my fill on Monday... today I tried hard protein. I can eat 4 oz of salmon and feel STUFFED. I am not hungry. I can not believe it!!!! Had a shake for breakfast, 1/2 cup pasta for lunch, and salmon for dinner. Tomorrow: No coffee, no carbs. Pray for me!!!!

Sugar is my drug of choice. Thanks for posting the article.

I had pouch dialation and then was unfilled for a while. Went back on Monday and they said everything is ok. Filled me up quite good... so good in fact I am having a hard time drinking a protein shake in the am.....

Sorry I did not check back in last night, my sister and her kids were here. (I am a closet bandster so did not visit). I spoke with her with all of the very valid points brought up here, and we decided that it would be best to leave things as is. My husband really is happy with one, and if I ever became pregnant again he would be happy with another. To him it is not a major "thing". I feel the pull more than he does for another child. I told my sister that she was wonderful for even offering, and that I would be happy to love her kids and send them home, but did not want to bring up possible problems within our family regarding a child. I called the state again, and my husband said absolutely no way would we go that route... again. In my heart I feel that there are so many kids out there that need a good home, and I want to be that good home for them, but I have two very important people here to think about. I guess I was selfish for even thinking seriously about it. But, as she has more kids I can love them too, and love everyone that walks thru my classroom door. Then I can come home to a nice quiet house with my 8 year old that can take care of himself now. (I think that is the biggest reason I want another one, he does not want Mommy as much, he wants Daddy or to do it himself now.... but that is selfish too.) Anyway, thanks again for the opinions and suggestions. I truly appreciate them.

I did not mean to imply that I only wanted a healthy white baby. I just wanted to make the point that it is more expensive to adopt them, and any other race would surely know it was adopted. Thru the Edna Gladny Home a white baby is around 28,000. Minortity baby (anything mixed with black, and black) 14,000. Most are mixed hispanic/black thru the agency. I personally would love a little African American girl, and have asked the girls on my step team lots of questions about specific issues that they face. The biggest issue I see would be care of the hair, as it breaks easily. Oh, and I can't let them get "ashy". So, lots of baby lotion right out of the bath. (side story: My mother was pregnant and we knew an African American couple with a daughter named Olivia. I wanted my mom to have a little black baby like Olivia, and she said we would have to deal with what God gave us. I was so disappointed when I saw a white, red headed BOY. I cried, I was 4.) My DH does not have a problem with adopting a minority baby either, but says "other people" would and he would not want to make it harder on the kid. The "other people" include those in the state we live in (TX), and unfortunately some ignorant relatives. I see the racism every day, things that face my girls, and my kids in class. I know it is real, and I know it would be hard on a little one. (But then again, it would have me to protect it. ) I deal with the fat issue with the one I have, it is hard, but you just have to make your child strong.

I know what I should do. My DH says that we need to just be happy as is, thank God for the son we have, our jobs, and our home. I know he is right. I prayed and prayed for a little one, and was blessed with my son. And as I read these posts, I see what a Jerry Springer moment this would be if I actually went thru with it.

I am in need of some size 24/26 stuff to wear to work. I am a high school teacher, and I wear mostly big tops and pants. Would be happy to pay for shipping. Live in Rockwall/Dallas Area too, if you would allow me to pick things up.

I wish someone would call me skinny... better yet I wish they would call me that and mean it. :love: Went for a fill today. They put in .6 cc. I am kinda scared right now, since they took out .4 last time. Have been very sore today, but liquids go down fine. I have officially stayed the same weight.... well down one pound. They said that it is an accomplishment not to have gained, but I don't buy that. I am now armed with a good fill, lots of Vitamins, and some resolve to lose SOMETHING before the one year mark. I hope I can. Glad to see everyone is doing well. Have a great evening.

Yes, I have thought about the "changing her mind" thing. The adoption thing, the international adoption thing, the drug thing, the everything. We had decided just to give up, and then some teenagers asked me if I would adopt their baby. Both the boy and girl asked me, but the grandparents decided they would take care of the baby... so the baby thing came up again. Then my sister came up with this plan because I was crushed about the other. Hubby will not go thru the state, Adoptions cost so much money thru agencies (especially if you want a healthy white baby). If we adopted another ethnicity it would surely know it was adopted, and it does not bother me to tell the kid. I guess I should be happy with the one perfect baby I have had the pleasure to raise, but it would be nice to have another little one, so that he could have a sibling. You guys have confirmed all the things I have been thinking. It is just a hard thing to give up on. Thanks for the advice/opinions.

Well, either way it would have to be her egg or an adopted egg. Then you run into IV and all that mess. She is actually off her meds at this point, as she is due to have another baby in August, which is why she made the offer. Basically, she would stay off her meds while she recovers from this one and then have one for me. That is her plan anyway. She says that she asked her doctor about it, and since she has no problems with pregnancy he said it should be ok physically. She has seen the way I raise my son, and she has seen the pain/meds/expense that my DH and I have gone thru over the years and she says that since she has them easy anyway it would be "no big deal". (I had a horrible pregnacy, put to bed rest, and emergency c-section.) So it would not be easy for me to have another one. I am torn, but need to make my decision. She came by tonight and spoke with us about it, her DH present and all. I want a baby so bad... but I don't know how bad...

I tried this too. I had to drink a gallon of water a day... and it was hard.

I voted no. Mainly because I have not seen much weight loss, have felt terrible pain from being overfilled, can not eat the things I am used to (even the healthy stuff), crap goes right thru, and my whole life has changed for nothing. I still buy the Vitamin appetite control things, my cravings/hunger is still there, I apparently can eat enough to stretch my pouch, and have to worry about every little thing now. Eating out is a pain, eating in front of co-workers is a chore, and I hate the way I feel about myself even more. Being a lap band failure is worse than being a regular old failure. At least when I was a regular old failure, I could eat broccoli and bread when I wanted to. Or, salad... or nuts... or drink a coke... or .... well you get the point. And don't get me started about the questions from others. "so, how are you doing? How much have you lost?" Or the look I get from my DH when I eat something I am "not suppose" to. This TOOL works for some, but has not worked for me. This was my last ditch effort and I still have the same "head issues" and physical issues such as carb cravings. It will not work if you are a sweet eater.

Yeah... and then you have to worry about about the cops coming after you.

I have been looking around for suggestions on pesticides and a new lawn. My DH does not know, he says that since we just put our lawn in this past week we do not need to put chemicals on it. I say we need to put something on it, because along with our new lawn we have new "friends", aka ants and a roach :girl_hug:. Does anyone know if we can spray the lawn with bug killer and not kill our new lawn?

It found me. Stupid little thing. It either came from the new lawn or the new neighbors, and I am hoping it was the lawn. I killed it right off and have not found another one. It is funny, to see all that "grass" and only one "roach" .:hippie: (The kids are using new names for those kinds of things these days though.)

I stay with apple sauce. The single serve containers of it can be packed to use in a pinch. I keep some at my desk. I also kept nuts at my desk... but don't think I will be going there anymore... as I was the one that ate the cashew from hell... Stay on liquids until your tummy feels better. I am still doing that as I feel swollen. As for the papya, swansonsvitamins.com has it on sale for under $4.00. Hope you get to feeling better.