Sunta

Nykee, Your shopping list makes me so happy. I am so glad you went and got some healthier choices. What an inspiration! You can do it!!!

I'm just not clear on why every one of Sunta's posts have to do with genetics. I don't see the value in repeating the same statement over and over. As I mentioned on my previous post, this entire thread is about heredity. That is why I am talking about genetics on this thread. Thank you PhotoNut, Doc, and Dawg.

Sunta, we get it, you think obesity is genetic. Try googling "hereditary disease message board" and see what people on those boards are talking about. Treatment plans, how they live their lives, etc. No one reminds each other every third message that their disease is inherited and that they can't help themselves. Do these "scientific study" people pay you or something? No one is objecting to your "facts," we're just wondering why you insist on beating a dead horse. Until one of your research buddies comes up with a cure for these hundreds of obesity genes, what's the point of dwelling on it? The title of this thread is "Fat Family, It's not inherited!" Were you aware that the word "inherited" relates to heredity?

I have two cats and neither of them are overweight. I don't have any children.

I know for myself, nurture was not involved in it. My mom cooked very healthy food and served me normal portions. Despite her efforts, the second I hit puberty, the weight started pouring on no matter what I did. I was a skinny (normal weight) child. As I have mentioned repeatedly on other threads, the fact that obesity can be a genetic condition, passed down through families, has been well-researched and proven. Again, I'm unsure of the reason for the strong objections to this fact. I'm not speaking for anyone else on the board, only for myself, and for myself, genetics caused my obesity.

Perhaps it is not inherited for some, but for some, it is inherited.

Hi! I met with my surgeon yesterday for my last pre-surgery visit. I had met with him for the first time in September of 05, so about five months ago. Ok, so when I met with him in September, I asked him how many bands he'd done, and he replied "About 40, and I just did three yesterday. We do about five a week." So I said "so by the time I have my surgery it will be alot more, right?" and he said "Oh, definitely." So I meet with him yesterday, FIVE MONTHS after I met him for the first time, and I say "So how many bands are you up to now?" and guess what he says?...... "Oh, about 40" (!?!?!!?!?!?!) I was like "whaaat?" I said "When I met with you five months ago you said you'd done about 40" and he goes "Well, at that point maybe it was more like 38". And I was like "But you said you've been doing about five a week" and he goes "well, I did one yesterday. It's been a slow couple of months because it seems like everyone's premium comes due at the same time and then there's a slowdown." (I don't have any idea what that even means). I left his office very perplexed. I went to the front desk and asked the woman there to clarify and she said that maybe he meant he'd "attended" 40 and then done 40 on his own. But wouldn't he have said that then? I am very confused and freaked out. I don't want to be the first patient he's actually banded himself! What if he's only attended 40? How can I check this out without asking him again? I feel very awkward to call back and question him about it again. Is there some way I could check with the hospital? My surgery is supposed to be in 12 days and I'm freaking out!

PhotoNut, thank you! Thanks too for the advice about eggs. They told us we could eat them during the mushy phase in my nutrition class, but I did wonder because I had remembered some people on here saying they got stuck on eggs. About the non-food things we need for after surgery, so far I have bought Gas-x, a pill crusher, chewable vitamins, powdered Benefiber, a heating pad, liquid Tylenol, liquid Tylenol PM, and skin firming lotion (I'm very worried about excess skin so plan to put firming lotion on every day). Leenerbups, I also wanted to mention that Trader Joe's (if you have them where you live) sells these amazing, all-natural smooth soups like roasted pepper and corn, brocolli, and carrot. They are all low-fat and really delicious. If you don't have a Trader Joe's, check out the nearest health food store for similar products.

Hi, I've been buying like a madwoman at the grocery store for my liquid phase (I'm going to be on "full" liquids for four weeks). Here's what I've bought so far: Lots and lots of Slimfast Optima (half the sugar of regular Slimfast and it controls hunger for four hours according to the commercial) Campbells split pea soup (no chunks of anything, it's totally smooth) Campbells tomato soup (again, smooth) Water Sensations (these would work well for the clear liquid phase also) unjury protien powder, chocolate, vanilla, and unflavored The center where I go sells high-Protein soups and hot chocolate so I bought like five boxes of that in various flavors. The brand is called "Healthwise". I'm also planning on blending up alot of my own drinks like for example low-fat yogurt, bananna, one tablespoon Peanut Butter, and Protein Powder. (That's a recipe they gave us in my nutrition class). For clear liquids (I have to be on them two days before and two days after surgery): chicken broth (Healthwise makes a high-protien one) Arizona no-carb iced tea Crystal Light in various flavors Jello Mushy food: Applesauce Cottage cheese refried Beans lots of pureed things like homemade soups and stews scrambled eggs

Does anyone know which of these procedures (excluding the LAP Band) has the best safety record?

Yesterday, I got into a dispute with a guy in the neightboorhood where I work in Philadelphia about parking; he always blocks off parking spots for his own convenience (which by law he is not allowed to do). I moved his cones and parked my car, and he started screaming at me: "you ignorant bitch! How dare you! You're too lazy to walk half a block! I can tell by looking at you!" Well, ok, this guy himself was very heavy, so I was just shocked that he felt like he could insult ME like that! So I just laughed and pointed and said "HAHAHAHA! Look who's talking! HAHAHAHA!" It made me feel alot better. So, I fully advocate slinging some insult back to these people who feel like they can say such things. I have also slung insults back to people who said something about my weight like "well at least my face doesn't look like a pizza! HAHAHAH!" and "Well I can lose weight but you can't change ugly! HAHHAHA!" I always try to pick the physical thing the person would be the most sensitive about. It always makes me feel alot better! (Is that too immature of me?) in fact, times when I have NOt said something back, I have had hurt feelings, but times when I have said something back, I forgot all about it. Also, I just think about how thin and hot I'm going to be after surgery and that helps alot too. I feel for you because believe me, I have been there. Try getting scrappy and bitchy like me and see if it helps. LOL!

My surgeon wants me on full liquids for FOUR weeks! I think it's totally and competely unrealistic. The bizarre thing is that they consider cream of wheat a LIQUID! Isn't that the strangest thing ever? Cream of Wheat, but not yogurt or blenderized soups (those are considered mushy). I know we're supposed to follow our doctor's protocall, but I just can't see being on a liquid diet for a whole month. I plan on moving to blenderized soups, yogurt, apple sauce, etc after two weeks and onto full mushy/pureed foods arfter three weeks.

I always wondered about this 250 weight limit on treadmills. It's the reason why I haven't bought one. It makes me so mad! How are people supposed to lose weight and exercise if they are over 250lbs??? Drives me crazy. That being said, I would still try it and if it works ok, go for it!

With regard to the rules, I am planning on following an *really* well-known rule of "calories in, calories out". It doesn't really matter if the food is a protein shake, millk, ice cream, steak, pizza, brown rice, etc etc. Calories are calories are calories. If the protein shake fits into a person's daily calories, it doesn't matter that it's liquid IMHO.

Hi! My surgery is February 21st, 2006 with Dr. Peters at Christiana Hospital in Delaware! Two weeks!!! I can't believe it! I have only lost 3 pounds so far...

I like to hang out with friends! This takes up ALOT of my time! I also love movies, shopping, visiting with family, emailing, antiquing, working on house projects, shopping. Most recently I have taken up collecting cothing in small sizes to wear after I lose weight! I bought a teeny tiny itty bitty pink panty set that I hope to be into in a year and a half!!! I'm going to hang up the clothes around the house to motivate myself! I also run a movie club once a week and I entertain a LOT. All of these things keep me very busy!

Bacon actually does not have that many calories: 130 calories for three whole slices!!! I think that's a really low calorie count actually, for a whole lot of flavor! I plan on eating bacon after I get banded because I love it.

Hi, I know how you feel. My surgery is in two weeks (I can't believe it!!!) I too am very nervous. Best of luck and keep us posted!!!

Hi Nykee, It occured to me while reading your logs that if you just switched from regular juices to sugar-free juices (like no-sugar lemonade and no-sugar grape drinks), and switched from milk to any other kind of no-calorie drink, you'd be saving yourself hundreds of calories every day. Also, kids don't "have" to eat foods like mac-n-cheese, ramen, and corn dogs. All of these are really loaded with fat, salt, and calories (which I'm sure you know). Incorporating healthier (but still delicious) choices (low fat microwave popcorn, fruit, string cheese, frozen banannas, homemade Pasta with marinara and turkey meatballs, etc) will help both you and the kids. Also, I noticed that you don't seem to have many homemade meals or regular meal times. Could you make a goal to incorporate more regular meals into your schedule instead of snacking instead? It seems like everything is a snack rather than a meal, and snack foods are so loaded with calories I can see that it would be a major deterrant to weight loss. Small changes can add up to big ones. But the main things is switching from the calorie-laden fluids to no-cal fluids. This alone would cut your calories drastically.

Does anyone know the reason behind morning restriction?

Warning: the following is extremely gross! I took Xenical for about two months, and what I remember most about it is what my husband would excitedly refer to as "the orange oil" which is when instead of the normal poo, orange oil would shoot out of my bum like I was peeing. For some bizarre reason, my husband thinks that any out-of-the-ordinary poo of any kind is really funny, so he used to get a big kick out of it. But it was no picnic for me, that's for sure!

Hi, I can't tell you how much I totally relate to what you've said about fear. I am almost totally healthy (except for a hiatal hernia which will be fixed during surgery). The cardiologist I saw for pre-testing said my heart was "perfect", I don't have sleep apnea, no high blood pressure, no joint or back pain, etc. There is absolutely nothing wrong with me except for being 160 pounds overweight. But I am only 35 and I know what I'll be headed for being 160 pounds overweight if I don't do something now. The thought which has comforted me the most has been that I am vastly more likely to die from being overweight than from the procedure. Just being morbidly obese puts me at a great risk for a blood clot. So, the risk of a blood clot is greater for me if I *don't* lose weight. I keep saying that to myself. My date is February 22nd and yes I've definitely been having trouble sleeping at night because I'm so nervous! Another thought that helps me "it's only one hour out of my day". The surgery is very quick and thus lessens the risk of complications. I know what you're going through but maybe these thoughts can help a little bit.

Hi, I have read alot of people saying that their band is wide open at night, allowing them to eat alot at dinner. This really concerns me, because my typical eating pattern is that I am not very hungry during the day and don't eat much, but then at night I eat a huge dinner because I finally get hungry. So, when you say your band is open at night and you can eat alot, does that mean you can eat at pre-band levels? (Three-four pieces of pizza, or an entire entree from a restaurant, for example) Or does it mean you can eat "more" than during the day, but not as much as pre-band levels? If I will be able to eat a pre-band dinner, then I am extremely concerned that I will gain weight instead of losing! After all, eating in this pattern is what put me here in the first place! I can go through the whole day eating like, a bowl of Cereal in the morning, a protien bar for lunch, no Snacks, and then eat an enormous dinner. It's the enormous dinner that makes me gain so much. So, I am quite concerned that post banding I will be facing the same issue. I'm hoping that by "wide open" you mean more than during the day, but not as much as pre-band.

Hi, I searched the forums for this topic but could not find an answer so I apologize if this thread has already been discussed, but I was wondering how soon everyone returned to work after surgery. At my psych eval on Tuesday, the therapist said that the normal recovery time is 2-4 weeks! I was under the impression I could return to work after a week and have only requested one week of sick leave. Now I'm concerned. I'm sure it will vary for everybody but if I could get a general idea of an average return time, that would be great. (Working outside the home or "returning to normal activites" like school or housework). Thanks!

After going through alot of pre-op testing and classes, I would say they made me jump through too many hoops. I think some basic pre-op testing and maybe one beginning informational seminar and then one appointment to review post-band eating would suffice, along with written information and instructions. I do alot of research on my own and already knew everything going into the program, though, so maybe I am biased against too much hoop jumping.