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Carbonated drinks cause very uncomfortable gas build up in the lower stomach area, which doesn't escape so easily through the banded area of the stomach. Some believe that carbonated drinks cause the stomach to be stretched out from bloating, although not all agree. Also, carbonated drinks often fall into the category of liquid calories which is a big no no, and diet carbonated drinks have sugar substitutes which are thought to increase hunger. For that matter, so does beer. Where does everyone go after the bars close? To breakfast! I really put on weight in my drinking days!

Wow, I have something to share! Yesterday, I picked up my mom from the airport (she's in town for the weekend) and she wanted to go out for lunch. Err.. I haven't been out to eat since I started the pre-op diet. I was a nervous wreck. I knew I wasn't going to eat anything I shouldn't but my fear was that smelling and seeing all those foods I used to be addicted to would bring back the cravings. Being a people watcher (my all time favorite hobby), I knew I wasn't going to be able to avoid seeing people enjoying what I couldn't have. Eating out used to be my way of life. Well, we walked into Red Robin and there they were.. all these people feeding on huge burgers. I watched in amazement as they somehow unhinged their jaws to fit their gaping mouths around these monstrous globs of food… Their cheeks bulging as they smiled and chewed with mayonnaise covered lips. Every plate of food I saw delivered to the tables seemed heaping with enough to feed 3 people. What I expected to trigger longing and cravings actually was excellent therapy - for me. I ordered iced tea with lemon and a cup of chili - no cheese, no onions, and no crackers. Mom ordered a bowl of chili. The server looked at us like we were nuts.. “That’s –all- you want?” *laughs* When the food arrived it was served with a large round soup spoon, I requested a regular spoon. Mom and I thoroughly enjoyed our chili, and we sat in Red Robin for 3 1/2 hours drinking tea and enjoying a wonderful visit. As I walked out, I felt an enormous victory in my life and I remembered so many of you saying "Make your dining out time about the people you are with, not about the food." I smiled and walked out feeling so good, rather than being disgusted with myself and feeling so uncomfortably gorged. What a huge victory in my life!

Oh yeah.. thanks for the reminder. I think I'll be ok now. LOL Here's a few more for your kids: :drum: :jaw: :rant: :eek: :eek:

Kathy, I think I have to throttle you now! I made it through Red Robin but your dinner description just made my stomach whine! LOL Diane, nope.. no addiction to GS Cookies here. I'm not a sweet eater thank goodness. Like I said.. that title was for you! *grins*

Protein, protein, protein! We are eating low carb, low fat diets. Our bodies look to carbs and fats for energy. When the body doesn't find enough of those, it starts using our protein supplies - muscles and hair are built from protein. Many of us are now more active than we have been, in addition to reducing carbs and fat. So we require even more protein. The minimum we should be eating is 60 grams. (animal Proteins are absorbed the best) This is for muscle and tissue repair after surgery, and for fighting infections. But as we feel better and start moving around more, the increased activity means we'll need more energy sources. Since we won't be increasing carbs and fats, we need more protein. For example, bodybuilders eat 1 gram of protein per pound of body weight. Oops.. there I go again, preaching about protein. I can't help it. It's SO important!

Dang.. I know exactly how you feel Margo. Every day I wake up and feel that fear in the pit of my stomach and the nasty little voice in my head whispers, "What if you've done all you're going to do? You know you usually get about this far and it all falls apart. What if this band isn't the hope you thought it was. What if you get FAT again!?" I just want to cover my ears and do the old "la la la" thing. Unfortunately, that doesn't help drown out all the voices on the inside, does it? I try to repeat these things to myself to override the negative thoughts: 1. This is a long term goal - what I weigh today doesn't matter! 2. I know I am eating right, the weight WILL come off - what I weigh today doesn't matter! 3. As long as I don't give up, I will succeed - so what I weigh today doesn't matter.. unless I have given up. Don't give up and try to fight the discouragement. It's only the negative self talk that has brought us down before. You -are- doing the right things. Don't try to over think every bite, every exercise etc. Just walk a little each day, as you feel more energetic, you'll want to exercise more. Try to be active doing things that achieve non weight loss related goals, even small personal ones. I think we get so obsessed with this band and the weight loss that we forget there are other things around us that we can be working on while we let our new healthy eating lifestyles become part of us, rather than everything we are. Make sense? Wouldn't it be great to feel so relaxed about your new food lifestyle that you forgot to weigh for three weeks or more? Think of the huge surprise you'd have when you stepped on that scale! That's when we will really be free!

Kim - My mom almost walked right by me before I caught her eye and she finally recognized me! *grins* How cool is -that-? hehe Red Robin lovers - The chili really is out of this world! Lots of hamburger (first I've had since.. um.. wow, I can't remember when!) Chili is very good for Protein and I didn't get the gas I usually do with canned chili. Diane - *laughs* You goober! Did you see my title? I put that there just for YOU! *hugs*

Hey Connie :eek: So glad you found LBT. Its a great place to make friends, learn a LOT and find plenty of encouragement along your journey. Grats on hitting ONEderland and what a great NSV (non-scale victory) it was for you to go out with your son and enjoy the time rather than feeling so worn out! So happy to hear about the meds becoming unncessary! Hope to hear more from you as you progress.

Welcome to LBT and grats on your band!

Dishdiva - Very best wishes for a quick recovery. So glad to hear you'll be sticking around!

Hello Sigrid! Welcome to LBT! Grats on your band and weight loss so far. It's great to have you join us and we look forward to hearing more from you!

Penni - Wow, thats very reasonable. Under $3 per meal average. Dawg has been buying Healthy Choice meals for his dinners, and eats instant oatmeal, canned fruit, and tuna lunch packs for his lunches. He's having a hard time getting to 1,000 calories and I'm starting to worry. He doesn't want to deviate from the set foods he's now happy with, but he's just not getting enough calories. 1,200 to 1,400 would be perfect. I think I'm going to have to look into this for him and me too. Wow, no more big shopping trips. That would be lovely. Do you have a freezer in your garage for all the meals?

*gasps* I think I've hit my first "plateau! I weighed today and I only lost 1 pound.. ONE! Compared to the rest of my weigh-ins this sucks! My food intake hasnt changed, I had more overall activity through the week, but nothing like major workouts that would build muscle. I can only say thank God weigh-in is now on Wednesdays so I have a few more days to remedy this! LOL So this is weird.. do any of you go through this? Each week, as it gets closer to weigh-in day, Dawg and I talk about how we feel we are doing. Every week we have said we felt fatter and like we'd gained weight, and then we stepped on the scales to find a nice big loss. This week.. we both said we could really tell we've lost, we feel lighter, expected a large drop only to find we'd hardly moved from last week! What an odd thing!

Gloria - What posts? *winks with a big smile*

Ok, so yesterday I totally messed up on Water and walking. I've had company.. my mom's visiting this weekend, and honestly I have been so sore and tired from all the housecleaning last week I have just slacked off yesterday and today! Doing great on food choices though. Had a couple of really important NSVs. Tomorrow's mom's last day here then it's back to the routine. You know, typically I have fallen off of diets in the past when company came. It usually involved big meals that I cooked or going out to eat, then it was hard to get back on the good food. This time all I need to get back on is the treadmill! Thats a huge improvement over the past! Penni - I saw your slip up and your big sigh. *hugs you* Don't get discouraged. We never fail unless we give up and stop trying, right? I know you can do this! I'm not familiar with the Nutrisystem thing. Tell me some about it and why you chose it? Dawg and I are supposed to start at our gym on Monday night. If I back out of going, I want someone to yell at me! Hope everyone is having a really great weekend. *hugs to all*

Welcome to the club Yagergerl and Skye! You both sound ready to get the party started! That's awesome! Kim - Gimme 20!! And then show us a pic of your new hair! w00t! How's everyone doing this weekend? Staying strong? Keeping your eyes on your goals? Remember that wonderful saying: Nothing tastes as good as being thin feels!

Thanks everyone! I knew you'd understand! It was a marvelous feeling indeed! DOC - thanks! I've been having a realy wonderful visit with mom. Jack.. you crack me up!

I just had to put these side by side for you, Sweety. You look years younger! Look at those fantastic cheeks! Beautiful!

Happy Bandiversary! What a wonderful testamony to success! It's not about the numbers, it's about being FREE! So congratulations on your freedom! Being free from the bondage of food is my most heartfelt prayer for all of us. Thank you for coming in to share that with us! And yay! A baby! I'm thrilled for you! Be sure to share pics when the little one arrives! Nothing like a baby for dropping 10 pounds real quick! *laughs*

*smiles* I sincerely hope it helps.

:welcomeB: to all the new people joining the club! And thanks to all the people who responded to my PMs and posted your stats! It's been so wonderful reading everyone's stories and hearing the determination behind the words! Heather - You are so welcome. You're a sweetheart and I'm more than happy to help you. Mrycrltn - I sent you a PM about the Avatar picture stuff. Tricia - Great idea about walking and water! The best me - Fungus Fighting Thought Gardener Awesome!! *big smiles* Hey Kimmers.. I've thought about doing this too. Kind of a negative reinforcement thing. Crave chocolate - 20 situps! Crave bread - 20 situps! Maybe eventually craving foods that will only make me sick will become something that my subconcious automatically shuts off to avoid the negative consequences... one can hope, right?! And by the way, getting down on the floor is easy.. it's the getting up again that could win me $10,000 on America's Funniest Videos! LOL

What a great post! Juniors.. WoW!! I read stuff like this and all the other crap that finds its way into these threads disappears. THIS is what it's all about folks. THIS is why we are here. THIS is what we all want and are trying for. I pray you ALL get to start a thread like this someday. I plan on it! Sincere grats and big hugs, Carrie!

I'm not here to win a popularity contest. If you don't like the way I present the information in my posts, you are welcome to add me to your ignore list. And I promise you.. it won't trip me up in my life whatsoever.

Hiya Gloria.. I've been here at LBT for about three months now and the main thing I've learned about posting on the boards is that two wrongs don't make a right. A nice PM to Tricia would have given her the chance to think about how her title might have offended people and she might have quickly offered to change it. When we perceive that someone is directing insults at us, our first response is typically to defend ourselves.. often with equal or greater insults. I myself have walked right into this before I realized what I was being drug into. Nothing will ever be truly resolved by slinging hateful, hurtful words at one another. Even if Tricia said it to be rude.. how are we any better if we respond in kind? If we see a post by someone that bothers us enough to address that person about the post, then we should have the maturity to do so in a PM instead of turning the entire thread into a mudslinging war. Because when we do turn it into a war, we end up with both sides looking less than intelligent.

Heya Babs.. I've chosen this part of your quote to respond to because I think this is where most people are getting off track. There is nothing wrong with asking any question, a million times if you need to in order to really understand an issue. And there are plenty of things that are not medical issues that require a doctors attention which are fine to ask. I think what we were all talking about are posts by people who haven't been able to keep Water down for four days and are here asking us what they should do. Well.. duh.. call your doctor! You might want to check out the thread I started that addressed this very thing. There were a lot of very upset and hurt people who launched some fiery arrows at me for saying this should be a no brainer. The thing I've figured out is that those who fit the category being discussed in the thread are the ones who attack the hardest. Like the ones going for mine and Tricia's throats in this thread. It sure would be nice to see people be "adult" enough not to take these kinds of dicussions and turn them into personal attacks on people. I'm not saying that you have.. but it's happened in this thread and it's just childish. Sure it seems like anyone should understand that if you eat like a fat person eats, you will be fat. But some people just don't like to hear the truth. To Tricia and many others on this thread, it seems like a no brainer that people should be getting the basic information regarding surgery and the subsequent lifestyle change, yet a few have turned it into personal attacks simply because they dont like when they preceive that someone else thinks they were "wrong". In other words, anyone runs the risk of pissing off someone each time they post. I highly doubt that any of us post with the intent to hurt another's feelings. So let's give Tricia the benifit of the doubt here, ok?