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UGH! Sorry you're having to deal with this. Both DD's health and your mom, the food pusher! You are right in that it really isn't DD's fault. It's hard to say no to an adult when you're a kid. (I forgot how old DD is. 12ish? Can't remember.) Esp. one you love. You're going to have to get tough with mom. Get brutal if you have to. Tell her the end result if you and DD don't get a handle on this NOW! Does she want her GDD to have diabetes? Other health issues from being a young overweight person? The ridicule from peers? Etc. Lay it on THICK if you have to (and it sounds like you're going to have to). Mom pushing food is very serious to your DD's health and your mom needs to realize it. DD may be fine now (thank God!) but how long is that going to last with mom over feeding her! I'm not trying to scare you, I'm trying to help you scare your mom. She needs to "get" this and "get" it fast! I don't blame you for going off on her. What she's done is not right, no matter how you look at it!

NO! It's not good for you! You send all the bacteria out of whack. OregonDaisy, have you thought about getting on a good probiotic? Taken regularly it can usually help get all your bacterias back in the balances they should be. I take acidophylis (I can never spell this right!) pills. I can't remember the brand (I can look it up for you if you're interested) but I get it in the health section of my grocery store. I keep them in the fridge and I take 1 pill 2x a day at this time of year. During the non sickie times of year, I drop it to just once a day. It needs to read that it has billions of live active cultures and keeping them in the fridge keeps them alive longer. What I take is a VERY tiny pill so even tho I'm restricted right now and can't even eat Breakfast, I can still take this pill. Weird, I know. Oh yes. We are also to blot after urination, not digging hard for China! Can't remember where I heard that but it cracked me up! Anyway, thought I'd share that! Sorry!

Sheesh! I've been on here everyday this week and can't believe I didn't see this sooner! Glad Mac bumped you up! Anyway. When I had my surgery in August my DD had just turned 2 in May. I started weeks before surgery telling her that mama was going to have surgery on her tummy and we had to be careful for awhile. Told her I wasn't going to be able to pick her up (I had a 10lb lifting restriction for 6 weeks) and that she was going to need to be a big help to mama. In the weeks leading up to surgery, I decreased how often I picked her up. We practiced her climbing on to our bed and getting on to the changing pad, planting her feet and lifting her butt up so I could swap diapers. I couldn't even lift her by her feet to clean her b/c she weighed 30lbs. Half of her was over my restriction! We taught her to pull her legs up to her head by grabbing behind her knees for me and get her butt exposed so I could clean her. I could help by pushing her legs towards her, but I couldn't LIFT her! She practiced getting in and out of the tub herself, climbing up to get on my lap, getting her clothes out of her drawers so I could help her dress, etc. She has an old dresser and the drawers stick a little, I couldn't pull on them, it hurt. DD is really strong and was able to do it! Go figure! DH and I switched vehicles for awhile after surgery. He took my truck and I took his car and we had DD practice climbing in and out of the car and seat on her own so all I had to do was make sure she was in correctly and then belt her in. DH went shopping with me (he usually does but not always) so he could put DD in and out of the cart and carry groceries. A gallon of milk is about 10lbs to give you an idea of how restrictive that is. Bags that I normally pack at the store are at least 20! One thing that I did before surgery that helped a lot was to think about every single little thing I did as I went about my normal day. Laundry was something else I couldn't do. Machines are downstairs in the garage. No way could I carry a full basket to and from the machines. Too heavy. Also, pulling heavy, wet clothes out of the washer was NOT going to happen! One thing we didn't think about was what if DD fell. I couldn't catch her. Too much weight pulling on me. Tho I did do so when she fell off of my lap. That hurt! Also, DD sliped while playing on one of her toys (wood fire truck) and got stuck. I had to help her out which meant pulling on her. She was trying to help as much as possible but still... And of course both times it was when we were on our own! Luckily I had a lot of help. My mom came down for surgery to stay with DD and then thru the 1st week. DH was able to be with me for surgery but he had to go to work the next day. When his 3 day shift was over (he's a fireman) he was home for 2 weeks (happened to have vacation then). Then my mom came back down when he went back to work to help me those 3 days he was gone. I had my 1st post-surgery appt and the drive is an hour each way so she wanted to drive that for me. So I was good for about 4 weeks between DH and my mom. The first shift on my own with DD was a little scary. DH and mom kept calling to make sure we were okay! I definitely had it easy. You, on the other hand, have your hands full on a good day!! If you can get as much help as possible those first few weeks, that would be really good. The thing with lifting is popping stitches where your port is placed in your abdomen. You'll also have stitches involving the band and your stomach but those are a little more protected. It's really the stitching in the muscle wall with the port. If you pop those stitches before things are healed, you're facing a flipped port and revision surgery. When you pick your kids up, you're using a lot of the stomach muscles. Even if you're using your legs and back, you still use a lot of those front muscles. You've GOT to be careful! It's that initial pick UP that's going to cause problems. You can FEEL it! Even after the 6 weeks, I was so careful. Every time I'd pick DD up I could feel everything in there. I'd actually have her climb up on something so all I had to do was take her. Carrying her was okay for a bit but it was the picking UP that was freaking me out. Carrying can be hard just b/c you're still healing, still swelling, still sore, etc. Also, DD would sometimes hit my port and that hurts. Still does if we're not careful. When I swell up (still do at night sometimes) the kitchen counters get a lot closer and I hit my port area! Ouch! OH! Just thought of something else. Get a small, squishy pillow. I took one of my DD's sleeping pillows. She never used it anyway. Came home from surgery with it. You'll want something between you and EVERYTHING else for awhile. Put it between your stomach and the seatbelt, between you and a kid climbing into your lap, when you sleep, if you and DH run into each other or you've got a munchkin climbing into bed with you- you're going to want that pillow. I would sleep with it even for my naps, it'd help to not turn over so easy. I had to wake up to turn VERY carefully. The pillow helped remind me that I just couldn't flip over. Trust me, that little pillow is going to be your new best friend for a couple of weeks!! Okay, that's all I can think of for now! LOL! If you have any questions after you read my mini novel here, just holler! :w00t:

I was told the same thing. Once I was off the 2 week, Protein shake only phase after surgery, he doesn't want me drinking any calories. I'm assuming he means milk too tho I do have a glass a day. I am also one of those who is too tight in the AM. I have my shake (slim fast low carb, it's low cal but high protein) by 10 and then have lunch between 12-1. I will also have shakes in the day or so after a fill. food is just too much after a fill. I'd also clarify with your surgeon about diet sodas. Most of us are not allowed b/c of the carbonation. But also, they aren't good for you b/c of the artificial sweeteners. They end up making you crave sweet things. Just double-check that one. I do drink hot tea on occasion with a little honey and ff milk. This is all stuff you need to talk to your surgeon about. You can't rely on us to give you your food plan. Every surgeon is different and has his/her own plan for a reason. We can just tell you what we're doing, not what to do. Best wishes!

I take 4 gummies a day (2 in the AM and 2 in the PM). I buy the huge bottle of them at Costco. My DD takes them too so this way I only have to buy 1 type. I buy the calcium chews at Costco too. Their Kirkland brand is really good and sugar free. Don't know about the Viactiv. The only pills I take a chance on are my acidophylis and my BP meds. Very tiny and I have almost gotten stuck on them. I have restriction now and am pretty tight in the AM.

Stuck HURTS. I find it VERY painful. Full is just uncomfortable and maybe a feeling of it sitting in your throat if you really push it. Which I've done once or twice. I try hard not to do either of the above but sometimes it just happens. I keep chewable papaya enzymes on hand (at home and in my purse) in case of sticks. Helps a lot. I haven't PB'd yet b/c of them. I also eat them after my lunch and dinner to help with digestion in general. Esp. if it's a meal that's just going to sit there. The ones that I buy also have chlorophyl in them and that helps with cell rebuilding too, just like in plants. :thumbdown:

Thanks Lellow! Your good wishes must have made it to the scale's ears! LOL!! I was actually expecting a gain and I lost! Last week: 189.1 This week: 188.7 Total Loss: -0.4 I'll take it! :tt2: I'm a little confused by some of you who have had great losses of a lb or more and you're disappointed but "taking it anyway." Those are GREAT losses! Average is supposed to be 1-2lbs a week. So you are right there with your weekly loss. This is NOT bypass where you lose 10-20lbs a week and have most of your weight gone in 6 months. It's really self-defeating to be speaking of a great loss like it's nothing and you feel you should have done better for yourself. You need to be positive with your losses. How many of us couldn't lose at all or very little before surgery? Or keep it off? How many of us would have started gaining at the holidays and would STILL be gaining? Probably most of us. I keep hearing how people did gain during the holidays but now they've lost that plus some since! That would never have happened before surgery! We've GOT to stop beating ourselves up! We've got to start celebrating ourselves and our achievements, not beating our heads against the wall b/c we didn't lose as much as we wanted too. Or calling ourselves losers or lazy for only managing to get on the treadmill 2x in a week instead of 7x. I bet 2x is way more than we'd done before surgery! We've got to stop talking down to ourselves and start talking ourselves up! Just my opinion! :crying:

Started: 191.2 Today: 188.7 Total: -0.4 Needed: -7.5

Sorry, LJM. I was referring to this post on pg.2. Take care! 'Night!

WTG, Lellow!!! I'll post in the AM after WI. Not looking good tho. We'll see! :biggrin:

I can eat everything. I have good restriction (5.5cc in a 10cc band). I have found tho that I don't eat as much bread as I used to. Weird. Before band, I loved bread, now, could care less. Of course I haven't been presented with a warm loaf of good sourdough yet so we'll see. That was always my favorite! I don't understand your comment of "I absolutely will give up white bread and everything else I'm suppose to on the band." The only thing I've HAD to give up is carbonated drinks. Once off your surgeon's post-op diet you should be able to eat what you want/can depending on your restriction. It's not a matter of dieting anymore. It's about living a healthy lifestyle and eating small portions of mostly healthy foods. I eat a well-balanced diet w/lots of veggies. I also like my cheeseburgers and pizza once in awhile too. I just don't eat them in the quantities I used too! LOL! Oh the only problem food I've found is pork (ex: chops, loin, etc.) b/c it takes a lot of chewing and I get tired of chewing it! But it's not b/c of restriction. Oh and white bread is the only bread for peanut butter! LOL! :biggrin:

You're doing great, LJM!!! Hang in there, you're almost done! Just one more day and then Joshua can make his entrance! I'm still praying for you! Have you been able to find ways to keep occupied? I mean besides eating! LOL! Just a little longer now. Hugs!

Hang in there, Gilta! I'm glad to hear DH is home and doing well. You must be so relieved! I'll get you some numbers tomorrow. Have you thought about doing the 5-day pouch test to get you off the carbs? I think good carbs are fine but it you're worried about it then that might help. Best wishes!

Hang in there. I'm probably not going to hit it either. At this point, I'd have to lose 2lbs a week to make it. I never lose 2lbs a week consistently. AND at this point I'm only a few ounces down from last week so tomorrow doesn't look very good either! LOL! My theory is that anything I've lost during this challenge is fantastic! I have a hard time losing, even with surgery, apparently, so as long as that scale is going in the right direction, I'm thrilled. I've never lost weight this consistently. Meaning, I'll have a week or 2 where it doesn't move but most weeks, I'm going down at least an ounce or so, most times a little more. We can't give up! We've finally made the decision to do something for ourselves and our health and darn it! we're going to DO IT!!!!!

Thanks SnT. :thumbup: I really did read the OP wrong. I wouldn't have posted had I read it correctly. Didn't pertain to me since I hadn't watched it! UGH! Hate when I do things like that! 'Night

Oh, Amy! Please hang in there! I'm really proud of your 20lbs actually! You've been down this fall and instead of gaining, you kept losing. We all knew this was going to be hard going in. Just sometimes reality is a bit harder than we thought it would be. I was banded the 25th and have lost about 21lbs since then. I read of others who've lost 50, 70 or more since August and it does tug on me. But I do have to remember that we ARE all different. I also have to remember that before I started Kaiser's program, I'd been fooling with the same FOUR POUNDS for about 8 months!!!! UGH! This is a journey, sometimes hard, sometimes easy, but one we've embarked on for our health. Please keep reminding yourself about how far you've come. You're doing a GREAT job!!! Hugs!

Oh Edel, I'm so sorry that you're struggling. And I have had to add to my ticker. It stinks. And I almost didn't do it. But if I start cheating there, where else will it go? I have to stay accountable even if that means going UP on the ticker. :thumbup: Congratulations on quitting the smoking. That will be so healthy for you. Your lungs are already healing just in the short time you've quit. Do you knit, or do puzzles or ??? Maybe take up a new hobby that requires the use of BOTH hands so you can't be snacking with one hand while doing your new hobby with the other! Maybe head outdoors for a walk instead of into the kitchen for a snack. That's all I can think of, sorry! Hang in there. And good for you for being accountable to yourself and putting it out there. That is half the battle!

I need to apologize to you, the OP and every one else on the thread. Reading your last post I was trying to figure out what you were talking about. I never post just for the heck of it, so I went back and READ the OP. The light bulb went on! If I had read it correctly the first time, I would never have posted. I thought that she was asking DID we see it, not IF we saw it!!! That's a big difference! No wonder everyone was up in arms! Tho SnT took it a little far! Kat, you didn't offend me. I was just taken aback by the posts against what I'd said. Esp. SnT's post, that one really took me by surprise. I would never have expected that based on past communication with her. :thumbup: Thank you so much for clarifying what you were talking about. That lead me to realize my mistake by posting in the first place. Have a good day.

Wow! I've re-read my post several times and don't find it negative at all! First, I never said I was a Republican. Second, I'm a SAHM w/a part time job that I do from home, it's a rare morning to have by myself to get some work done! I thought that was pretty positive! I was excited! Third, he has some views that I don't agree with and if he gets his way, which he probably will, it could very much hurt my family. So when I said "God help us," I meant it personally. Fourth, I NEVER watch those things! Doesn't matter who I voted for! I didn't watch any of the Bush ones, Clinton ones, Reagan, Carter, etc. I NEVER watch them. I do believe I said that! I wish him all the luck in the world. Just don't agree with him. I'm surprised at the attack. :tongue: She asked a question and I answered it! WOW! 'Night all.

Didn't watch. I don't even watch when it's someone I voted for, so sure as heck wasn't going to tune in today. Besides, I had the house to myself and needed to get some work done. It was a perfect morning to get ahead on the payroll taxes! I just have to say, God help us in the next 4 years!!!

I just saw this and wanted to say that I am so GLAD you're okay now! What an ordeal! Finally being able to sleep probably relaxed you enough to drop that thing through! And congrats on the win! Whoo Hoo! You're right to do liquids and soft foods for a few days. Your insides are probably very irritated and can use the break from regular food. Take good care!

Oh Gilta! You must have been terrified! Glad to hear he's doing better! As far as what you're doing for yourself, just do what you can, when you can. But don't ignore yourself either! Not good for you or your DH! AND even the easy way out with the food, I'm sure is no where NEAR what it was before surgery! Don't be too hard on yourself! Take care. Give my best to your DH. Both of you are in my prayers.

Can't help you there but probably should post non lapband questions in the lounge area. Have fun!

Costco has it's Kirkland brand, sugar free, chocolate calcium chews. I like them. I haven't had the viactive in a long time so I don't remember what they taste like but the Costco ones are pretty good.

Gilta, hope everything goes well w/your DH! Don't worry about us! Several of us posted on the original V-day thread our currents. Mine: Started: 191.2 Today: 189.1 Total: -2.1 Needed: -7.9