oneder_woman

Hey everyone! I hope you all had a great holiday and new year. Like lots of us, I am trying to get back on track after a not-so-on-plan holiday. At least I didn't gain weight this year, tho, so I am concentrating on that. I am going to try to be at the meeting Saturday too. I am excited to meet y'all.

The problem with this post is, most people will want to be nice and tell you not to worry, to just follow the diet from here on out, that you'll probably be fine. They'll tell you that because there is so much variation in what docs tell you to do, doing what you did must be okay. Inevitably somebody will tell you their doc said it was okay to eat 'regular' food the day after surgery, so don't worry. Some docs are more conservative than others. So, other newbies will come searching for just this kind of post - and just that kind of enabling advice - to justify doing what they know they shouldn't. I know that is true because I searched for just these types of posts to make myself feel better when I did not follow the guidelines. The truth is, you probably can't know what kind of damage you may have done at this point, because you are still healing now. The purpose of this phase is to allow your body to heal with your band in the right place so it will be anchored there. Proper healing is a prevention against slips or other problems later. All you can do now is follow the guidelines from here on in, and know that even perfect behavior can't prevent complications, but failure to follow the guidelines increases your risks. But trying to figure out what kind of damage has already been done - well that's just giving yourself either a reason to worry or a reason to break the guidelines again.

Hi everyone, I hope you all had a wonderful holiday. I went to see Leslie last week but wound up leaving things the same. I had been able to eat the last couple of meals, so we talked about what I had eaten and decided I didn't really want to be looser. I am happy with the decision, tho I am having to be really careful. I don't want to be able to eat more than I am eating now, and I am willing to deal with whatever I have to in order to maintain where I am. I was honest with Leslie about what and when I can eat, and she was on board with my decision. I am so glad I did not get an unfill, because I was able to get thru the holiday without overeating. I finally feel like my band is working as the tool it is designed to be, so I am very happy with the whole band scene right now. Of course, I am sure there will be at least one holiday party at which I wish I could eat more, but that's okay!

hey everyone. you can tell the holidays are upon us - we're all busy and not posting! I wish I could have been at the meeting last week, but I had another committment. hope you are all well. I am wondering if I need an unfill. Let me preface this by saying I will call Leslie on Monday. I got a fill Wed., 1.5 cc to get me to 7 cc total. I stuck to liquids until supper on Thurs., tried chili. It came back up in small amounts twice, then the rest stayed down fine. I had chicken salad for lunch today, it also came up in small amounts, but not all of it. For supper tonight, chili again, same story. I don't want to get an unfill too fast and wish I hadn't later. How long do you guys find it takes a fill to settle, or do yours feel the same from day 1? input please...thanks

Hey all! It's been a little while - life has been hectic. Did anyone go to the support group meeting last week? I was not able to go, had a prior committment. I'd love to hear how it went.

I developed this after gaining weight. I was wondering how many of y'all have this or had it before weight loss. I am hoping weight loss will alleviate it.

Welcome sassys! It's a great group of folks here. I look forward to getting to know you.

call your doc

Mia - I started to tell you to exercise, but I couldn't do it b/c it was too obnoxious. Take a hot bath with two glasses of wine.....that's my Rx! O_W

Oh, my WW scale did the same to me, and at the end it told me I weighed 18 pounds. I chose to believe it. I bought a HealthOMeter replacement. The first one just flashed E whenever I got on the scale, despite that it was supposed weigh accurately up to 350 lbs. I got another, and it works fine. I like it much better than the WW one.

Oh, it varies so much, even within the same brand! But between brands, forget it! There are no guaruntees what size I might need. So frustrating!

I had an NSV today - I got into a pair of pants I haven't worn in at least six years! They're still 24s, but still, they haven't fit since school. Also - they, along with a navy pair and a kakhi pair I have, are the smallest 24s I have ever known of. All my other 24s are loose, but these three pair range from just being comfortable to skin tight. We need truth in sizing legislation!

Mia - I had a million dollar idea while eating the philly cheese steak sandwich for lunch at teh festival on Saturday. Next year, I am going to have a food booth with grilled chicken, baked Lay's chips, fruit, lemonade and tea with Splenda, water, and other healthy choices. I bet if there was a healthy choice at least some people would opt for it. I would have Saturday, if I had been able to find one! ETA - Oh, and L2L - I am in awe of you doing a 5K. Maybe next year, I can do it too!

Growing up, I had horribly painful periods, though they were normal in flow and length. My cycle was a bit short, a family trait. But when I say painful, I mean cold sweat, lying on the bathroom floor, vomiting and bad bowel issues kind of painful. That got better with age, tho the pain is sometimes still severe. For the last year and a half, tho, I have had heavy, heavy flow, tho still normal in length. And my cycle is no longer short - it went from about 21 days to 28 or so. I am hoping with weight loss I'll get the best of both - normal flow, length, and cycle length.

Leslie said at the meeting Thursday that they might be adding another nurse in an effort to be able to take more appointments. It's not for sure, tho, I don't think. Para, you were there - what did they say?

GG - That is a HUGE nsv! I miss feeling strong like that so much. After my imaginary future babies, as I like to call them, that is my biggest motivator - feeling strong and in control of my body. So WOO HOO for you! That is fabulous!:biggrin: I had one too. We had an entry in the peanut parade in Sylvester on Saturday and I walked the whole route w/o being tired. It isn't far, and it's slow (duh, it's a parade) BUT still I would have had a much harder time last year. People are starting to notice the weight loss, too. I've gotten a lot of comments lately. I don't see it yet, other than in my face, but others are, so that's nice. Ally, L2L, Mia, ABC, Jonathan, Para....how is everyone? WHERE is everyone?

I have a fill appt. the morning of Oct. 29, and a work conflict will prevent me from keeping it. I would like a fill the next week, but of course by now, the next available appt. is in late Nov. Does anybody have an early Nov. appt. they would like to try to trade w/ me? if so, please send me a private email message.

I missed you guys at the meeting last night! I think I was the only LBTer there. Maybe next time we can meet up - those of us who live near Albany could even meet up for dinner or coffee beforehand? It was a pretty good meeting, tho it was my first so I don't have much to compare it to. The speaker seemed very nice and she certainly has lost a lot of weight. She looks great, and was very upbeat and positive. I don't want to seem negative, but I must say that if I took what she said at face value and didn't know better I would have a very different idea about life after lap band. At first it was almost like 'I don't exercise, I eat ice cream, and fast food, and drink soda occasionally. And oh, I also lost 192 pounds. I just 'watch it.' I wanted to say - OH! Why didn't someone tell me....I need to watch it. I can eat whatever, I've just been forgetting to watch it! And no exercise either, so long as you watch it. Ack! I feel so dumb!!!!! Why didn't someone tell me to WATCH it, before I spent $17,000!!!! But I didn't. And she did get into more of the nitty gritty, so to speak. But that was only after some questions. Maybe it's just me, but I wanted to hear about the struggles she'd had. I wanted to hear about what didn't work, so I can avoid some of the mistakes. I wanted to hear that it's not magic, that we all struggle, but that it is STILL POSSIBLE and worth it. I do feel motivated, but not as much as I wanted to. Which I guess is a lot to put on a non-professional speaker. The bottom line is that I have to motivate me, not rely on someone else to do it.

Orange Fluff One cup lowfat cottage cheese one cup SF cool whip one cup mandarin oranges (packed in Water with Splenda) SF FF orange Jello mix to taste Mix cottage cheese and cool whip, adding more of either to get to whatever consistency you like, then add the jello mix a bit at a time until it is the right amount of 'orange-y' for you. then mix in mandarin oranges and enjoy. I eat this several times a week and it is so good. You can try cherry jello and marischino cherries. I didn't like it as much, but to eat his own! There are tons of possible combinations.

Here is something I love to make: chicken Quesadillas - one portion Ingredients: 2 oz chopped grilled chicken (may substitute canned, or if really lazy, one half of a frozen breaded chicken patty or three oz. other prepared chicken) one-half oz of goat cheese a dozen leaves of baby spinach, more or less, depending on preference one flour tortilla, small size spray fake butter Prep: spread goat cheese on one side of flour tortilla spray other side with five sprays of fake butter place buttered side down in nonstick pan over medium heat place chicken and spinach on tortilla fold tortilla over to make half circle shape check underside and flip quesadilla when underside is lightly browned remove from heat, cut in half and eat! yum! You can substitute shredded cheese, provolone, whatever. you can also substitute preheated frozen spinach, but you MUST get all the Water out first or this will be gross!

Hey Mia, L2L! I am glad you guys are around. You both look great. Remember, the scale remaining still is better than that slow upward tick! I have had my own battles lately, as seen on another thread I posted recently. I won't bore everyone, but in the end, my scale is broken. It says I weigh 18.3 lbs. I am just enjoying that every day, seeing that tiny number. I have weighed every day for so long, I am going to put off buying a new scale for a few days, just to force myself away from that obsession. I am planning on going to the meeting tomorrow night. My sweet DH is going to go w/ me and probably sit in the car while we meet. He's the shizzle! I hope you guys get to go. I have been looking forward to meeting my LBT friends.

"I cant stick to three meals in a day ... i eat around one cup per meal and get really hungry real soon ... i was banded 28th june and dont have any fill.... i know the standard answer is get a fill but i cant get a fill due to personal reasons ... so will this damage my band" Are you full after one cup of food? What kind of food? Are you eating Protein, then veggies, then carbs? Are you drinking w/ your meal? Or too soon after eating? That will cause hunger to come on more quickly. Also, consult your doc, but there is nothing wrong with a healthy snack! "i have only lost 34 pounds .." Okay - since June? why are you upset? That is wonderful! I feel good about my weight loss, and I have lost about 45 since april 1, and that includes 17 on the preop diet. Stop comparing yourself to others. Only get concerned if you are stop losing. 1 pound loss per week is normal. "at times i get chest pain after eating" Probably it is food not going down well b/c too big a bite, too little chewing, etc. BUT I am NOT a doctor, and if you are concerned you should consult one. as for motivation - can't give you that - it's up to you. Keep doing what you have always done and you will not improve. might be harsh, but it's true.

WTF????? I do not understand what is going on with me and my scale. I got my latest fill a few weeks ago. It worked very well, I was so motivated and lost 8 pounds pretty fast. Then last week, TOM, and Water weight gain + cravings. I didn't give in to cravings, etc. Now, understand that I retain SERIOUS water - like 5 to 10 lbs of water. It sucks. Okay, so water gone, scale went back to normal. I fully admit I fell off the wagon on Friday night and gave in to temptation (Marble Slab Creamery is the of the devil). I logged my food at thedailyplate, and yes, I was way over, but not enough to even gain a pound, much less the NINE pounds that my scale reflected Saturday. I thought it was a fluke, but it was still there Sunday and this morning. NINE pounds - as in, heavier than before my fill. Again - WTF??????

I could bring my old scale to the support group meeting and we could all take a swing at it - fat girls' pinata! Bet that would be a scary meeting to walk into by accident - I am picturing it.... I'm surrounded by a group of bandsters, they're cheering, they're hollering, they're clapping and waving their arms. We're all dressed in what I call fat lady chic - knit pants with matching tops, maybe a faux cardigan, flats or fancy flip flops, pudgy toes perfectly pedicured. The group is cheering me on as I raise the bat over my head, my chubby triceps quivering with the effort, I'm ready to take a mighty swing......and the door pops open w/ some skinny person, oops, wrong...room. We are all instantly silenced as the door swings shut; I'm frozen with the bat raised over my head, peeping out at the unexpected guest, and then....'Get it! Kill it! Whoo hoo!' the crowd yells out again, and we're back to pulverizing that hated scale! Aaaannnd.......scene. Yeah, maybe you have a point, maybe I am a bit scale obsessed. Perhaps I should wait a while before buying a new one. esj

hhmmmm........well, my scale said I weighed 18.5 pounds this morning. I choose to believe that. Guess it may be time for a new battery or a new scale altogether.