jrg1979

I was a beer drinker before getting banded, and now I am trying to find new non-carbonated options to drink. This weekend I bought some Boone's Farm Strawberry Margarita, thinking it was apple wine like the Strawberry hill, etc. After drinking about half the bottle I felt so full like I had just ate thanksgiving dinner. Come to find out, it's first ingredient is carbonated water as well! Ugh! Does anyone have any suggestions for a good tasting wine that is not $20.00 a bottle or more? We have a little Texas Winery close to where I live and they have some that is called "sweet rodeo red" that I really like (plus it is really strong, only takes like 2 glasses) but it is kinda pricey. I guess you get what you pay for.

I have this very problem. I tell myself everynight I am not going to do this to myself, but 5 minutes later I am looking for something else to snack on. I also find myself doing it really bad on the nights I exercise. I don't know if I feel like I am "rewarding" myself for the hard work I did while exercising or if I am simply burning more calories therfore I really am more hungry. It is so frustrating to stay on plan so well all day then blow the whole day in the last couple of hours before bedtime:unsure:

Does anyone know how soon after surgery you can donate blood? I had surgery in February and now I need to donate blood for one of my friends. I am sure they can tell me at the blood center, but I do not want to waste my time and go (the closest one is an hour away) if I will just be turned away. Any thoughs would be helpful.

I heard somewhere that Medicaid will pay for lap-band, but you cannot find a surgeon that accepts medicaid.

If ya'll can get the surgery for $7,000, that about half of what most people who self pay have to pay. Is there no way ya'll can both go through with the surgery for that price? Most Dr. have reasonable payment plans.

I ate a pretty big lunch yesterday, and when I got home (about 1 hr later) I drank a big glass of tea. When I bent over to pick some clothes up out of the floor, all my lunch and tea came spewing out. (gross, I know). So I was wondering if this was the big "PB" I keep hearing so much about? I did not have any pain, and did not wretch or heave, it just spewed out that one time while I was bent over and then it was over. Any thoughts????

What is Aldi's? I don't think we have those in Texas. Is that like a Sams Club or Costco?

I know PB is a bad thing, but it is almost like I am excited to have my first PB. I guess I am just glad to experience for myself what everyone else has been talking so much about.

My Dr.'s instructions are to wait 30 minutes before drinking after a meal, but yes, it was actually more like an hour before I drank anything. When I say a "big meal", I mean a big meal considering. My "big meal" was about 10 chips with salsa, 1/2 of a chicken enchilada, a few bites of Beans and rice. I know that is probably more than most people eat, but I still do not have very much restriction. Until this point, I had never slimed or PB'd either - at least not to my knowledge, and am still not sure if I ever have - hence, this post! And since I was eating lunch out, NO, I did not measure my food before eating.

I had a terrible costipation problem for a week or so after surgery, and finally resolved it with some M.O.M. Since then, I think I still go (BM) as frequently as I used to, I just don't go as much as I used to. Does that make sense?

Maybe you sprung a leak?

I have heard alot of people on this forum talk about "eating around the band". What does that mean, exactly? I ask not to get ideas of how to do it, I just wonder if I may be doing it sometimes without realizing it. Can you please give me examples of "eating around the band"????

Where do you buy stevia? I've never heard of it. GraceUtah - you mix Splenda and Sugar together???

I may not be the best person to give advice, since I am somewhat new to this whole "losing weight" thing myself, but I do not like the chemical sweeteners either. I do not drink alot of tea, but when I do, it is sweet, and with the real stuff mother nature gave us. I have heard many people talk about other side effects of art. sweeteners, such as memory loss. I just cannot make myself believe a chemical sweetener is better for me than a natural sweetener. Also, as far as food goes. I am trying to make better food choices, but I am not willing to give up my favorite things. I shucked out all this money and got the band to help me lose weight, not to condemn me to dieting the rest of my life. I am trying to focus more on how much I eat rather than what I eat. Just my 2 cents.

Yep. I may be guilty of all of those things. Especially drinking while eating. Does anyone know the reason why we aren't supposed to drink BEFORE we eat?

Do you just keep a food diary in a spiral or something, or do you do the online diaries? I think I need to start a food diary. What do you recommend I keep track of, (besides what I eat of course)? I think I need to invest in a food scale as well, at least till I can get a grasp on this whole portion size dilemma... By the way, I am more than happy to give kudos where kudos are due. You have earned it. Congratulations.

I felt like a prisoner on death row that had to pick one final meal. I chose steak from Outback, since I did not know how long (if ever) it would be till I could eat steak again.

Wow! to you too, Kat! I have a 4cc band, too. 1st fill was 1.5 cc and 2nd fill was 1.0 cc. I can feel some restriction, (def. more than 1st fill) but not like I thought I would at this point. I guess everyone really is different. I have heard that some people loosen up after a couple of weeks, and some people can actually get tighter after a couple of weeks. I am hoping the latter will be my case.

If I did have one, I never knew it.

Indiogirl, you have only had 3 fills and are already at goal??? Wow! What size band do you have? What is your secret?

Honey, enjoy it while it lasts. Personally, my appetite came back (and with a vengence) after about 2 weeks. Getting 'enough' calories was not a problem for me.

Lori - I am so Jealous! j/k Good for you.

Thank You everyone, for your responses. Ang, That is a great idea, I never thought of that. My Dr. told to imagine a glass, and I should not be eating more than 1/2 of that, but some foods are easier to picture as "half a glass" than others. My dad loves Subway and we go there at least once a week for lunch. Yesterday I had a 6 inch Turkey on toasted wheat, but I just kinda picked at the bread and ate the insides - but probably still more than the 1/2 cup I should be eating though. "Where are you sweet restriction???"

Thanks hastings, I understand how to count calories, I just can't get a grasp on this whole 1/2 cup thing. It is easy to measure a 1/2 cup of soup, but what about 1/2 cup of sandwich, 1/2 cup taco, or anything like that. Does anyone have any ideas??? I am not concerned with the calorie content of a sandwich, or the weight of a sandwich, but the volume of a sandwich?

Hastings - So do you have any idea how much a 6 inch sandwich from subway would be in terms of weight??? How much food do you eat (weight) at each meal?