PhotoNut

What I do is cook the chicken in a broth so the meat is very moist already. I would think that trying to get dry meat down with liquids could backfire on you. Say the meat gets stuck, and then you try to wash it down with liquids. Well, the Fluid could possibly force the meat into a tighter situation or it could flush it through. Either way its going to be very painful. Not including liquids with my meals has been one of the hardest things for me to do. I'll tell you one thing though... don't EVER take a drink of something COLD right after eating a bite of meat. Your banded belly will shrink like a guy diving into a cold pool, if you get my meaning. Nothing will go thru then! *laughs*

Typically after swelling goes down and prior to getting the first fill we are able to eat as we did before banding. The hunger could increase as well. The thing to remember is that this is not the time to be concerned about weight loss but rather about the healing process. Even though you can it doesn't mean you should. Putting stress on your pouch, the stitches around the band, your esophagus, etc can cause serious problems. Just approach each new food with caution and chew well. Eat where you have few distractions. Be aware of any sign your body gives that you might be running into issues with the type of food you are eating, or even perhaps that you are full. I have been banded almost 8 months and have had a few occassions where I've experienced the golfball feeling but have never PB'd. Contrary to what many say, I don't think this is a necessary thing to go thru when banded. To me, its having a reasonable amount of restriction and eating carefully that eliminate that need.

PB'ing (productive burping) A misleading term but one widely used to describe an incident where food gets stuck because it wasn't chewed well enough or the texture is such that it makes it difficult to pass through the band. This usually produces a feeling much likened to a golfball stuck in your chest, behind the breastplate, and is sometimes accompanied by a mass production of slime by the body as it tries to lubricate the food and get it unstuck. Sometimes, this can pass on it's own with a bit of stretching your arms up in the air or bending over. Sometimes it causes nausea and wretching. Not good. We don't want the stitches around the band to be subject to such strain. Other times, a simple 'burp' occurs which brings back up the food which was stuck. This is not the usual vomiting as the only thing that comes up is the food that has not yet begun the digesting process and perhaps some slime. The key is to be aware of which foods to avoid, and to pay attention while you eat. Take small bites, chew well, and be very in tune with your body. Your new feeling of being "full" is going to be that pressure behind the breastplate. Pushing more food down past that point is likely to end up with a BP episode. Food which commonly give bandsters the most problems: Breads (the dough, no matter how well chewed, will glom together in gooey ball and can get stuck) Red meats and chicken (cook these in crockpots so they are very tender and moist, and take very small bites, chewing well. dont be afraid to spit out a piece that is a bit grissly or fatty) Fiberous fruits and veggies, and skins (potato skins, broccoli, pineapple, oranges, plum skins, grapes) Everyone is different, so you will want to carefully test each of these foods. The more restriction you have, the more likely they are to be a problem.

The beautiful Mrs. Sabre: (Ten years younger, my dear! Ten years younger!)

Oh my goodness, Kim. I just looked at the pictures of the house. What a traumatic experience this must be for them. There is so much in a home that can never be replaced. Pictures, gifts, things you've collected, a favorite coffee cup or pan, the perfect pillow that it took you years to find, nicknacks, letters.. goodness, how overwhelming this must be for them. My heart goes out to them and I pray they are blessed beyond belief throughout their recovery.

I did a little shopping today for my SWS. This theme isn't so easy to buy for! But I'll get it done and to my SWS in plenty of time!

WalMart gift cards are an excellent idea! Send me your addy Kim.

You'll have to edit the picture in a photo editor. If you have a digital camera, chances are it came with software for managing your photos. If not, then you can go online and get a number of free programs. A good one is irfanview: http://www.irfanview.com It will have a tutorial on how to resize pics. Good luck!

Awww this is so sad! Why dont you put together a list of things they need and we can all pick some things from the list that we will send to them? That way they wont end up with 10 backpacks and no pants! I'd be more than happy to help in any way I can.

Hey Judy, I just saw your post. I was banded on Jan 9th as well. There is a thread for us January 06 bandsters. Here's the link. We don't seem to be very talkative, but maybe a nudge on that thread will get people talking again! http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=17882

I'm going thru all the old threads on my subscribed list, cleaning house so to speak, and found a few that deserved a quick bump to the top of the list. This was definitely one of them! So inspiring.

Bumping for new folks, and for us older folks.. so we don't forget!

Bumpity bump bump!

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then that collage is worth millions. So happy for ya Alex. Happy Bandiversary girl! *hugs*

Howdy, howdy, howdy! Welcome to LBT! We've already spoken in PMs but I wanted to give you an official welcome here on the boards. You've found an excellent place for support, information, and friendships. Enjoy!

Here's a link to an excellent article about drinking Water. It explains how much we need, how it helps, why not enough slows our weightloss, and why caffeinated drinks are NOT considered part of the recommended intake. (sorry Jachut ) *grins* http://www.inch-aweigh.com/water.html

Way to go Nana! I went to college when I was 36. You'll love it!

Hey Lexi, welcome to LBT. Not sure you got your questions answered but I thought I'd bump your post in case some missed it that could help you out. I know that Penni60 sees Dr. Billy in Cali. Perhaps she could give you more info on him?

I messed with the pics a bit (darkness/contrast) and put them side by side for ya, Mo. Definite difference. You have a neck and look how your eyes are opening up! Keep going girl, you're doing great!

Hey Penni! It's so good to hear from you again! First of all.. Great job on maintaining your weight this summer! I'm thrilled for you! Secondly, if I were in your shoes I'd go with the band again. That way, you -still- have options open to you if something goes wrong. The RnY is so dangerous and so final. There will never be a chance to "remove it" and try again. You did well with the band, perhaps give it another go and maybe choose the larger band. Whatever you do decide, know that we are all behind you 100% and will be praying for you. You are loved here, and we want you healthy and happy! Love ya!

I went thru this same thing! I think it will be important for you to set some boundaries for yourself. Find some foods that are easy to eat, high in Protein, low in carbs and stock up on those. Get rid of sugars and flour products so they aren't there to grab in those weak moments. When you are hungry, eat. But eat foods that will help you stay healthy while losing weight. Fish (unbreaded fillets, tuna), chicken, cottage cheese, roast beef.. all excellent source of protein. Just make sure you cook your chicken and roast in a crockpot so they are very tender and very juicy. Also, slowly introduce foods back into your diet so you can determine which, if any, will cause you any problems (getting stuck, etc). Don't drink with your meals, and try not to drink for at least an hour afterwards. This will help you stay "full" longer. Take small bites, chew well, focus on taking 15-20 mins to eat your meals. And finally, serve your meals in smaller bowls or plates and eat with a small spoon or fork. This will help you manage portions. Never hurts to measure out 1/2 cup of veggies or to use a food scale to weigh out 3-4oz of meat. I typically serve my meals in a Glad disposable container, the small rectangular one that holds about a cup. I put my veggies in first with the meat on top so I have to eat my protein before starting on carbs.

Hey Sueol Welcome to LBT! Here's a few links that you'll find helpful in getting started. Many people aren't even aware of what questions to ask and often jump into the whole thing with little knowledge and a lot of unexpected surprises. I hope these help you and others avoid that situation. Best wishes for a smooth and happy weight loss journey! Questions to ask prior to being banded: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=15595 A very informative, hour-long video by surgeons who perform the surgery and go into detail about many aspects of being banded: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3190472028990485080&q=lap+band

She wasn't the only one who needed a break from it. I've enjoyed the peace and quiet personally. It's been nice not having threads where people (myself included) were being verbally assaulted.

And I like you, TommyO O O! *grins*

Hiya Lyn! Welcome to the GFG Club! Canada Sunshine will get you added to the members' page soon. Happy to have ya with us! :wave: Hey Ali! I'm here.. just been busy with family stuff. My crazy life just got crazier. And my end of the seesaw is down again Mo! I'm at 218 again. Up 6 down six.. I hope the seesaw breaks soon. I'd like to see Onderland! 11 stupid pounds from losing 100 pounds and I'm goofing around. I'm such a dope. Telly, watch out for Luna. She bites. *grins*