RAS_STI

the truth of the matter is that is does not matter what one uses to 'check out' - alcohol, drugs, food, sex, gambling etc etc. the problem isn't those 'things'. the problem is, as the book says, centered in our minds. we are uncomfortable in our skin and are unable to live in the day that we're in without reaching for something else. the purpose of the program of AA/OA/GA/SA/CA/MA ... (as it says on page 45 of the Big Book) is to help us find a power greater than yourself that will solve our problems. it also says, on the same page, LACK OF POWER THAT WAS OUR DILEMMA. i first got into AA back in 2001. i could put together some time (9months, year, 6 months etc etc) but kept 'going out'. My sobriety date is 12/10/06 and for the first time ever i've been in the book more and have truly worked all steps. i also sponsor 3 guys. for those of you who are new to AA or at an impasse, i suggest reading page 567. then go to page 45, then to page 25 and i finish up with the Doctors Opinion. Then start with Bill Story and go for it! that really lays the ground work for what AA is, our problem and the solution. if anyone wants to chat about things, feel free to PM me anytime. you best resource in your area is AA Central Office. Google it and call them. *remember "time", as they call it means nothing. you could have 6 months or 60 years. just b/c someone has lots of time under their belt doesn't mean that are a good resource to go to. don't listen to their words, look at their actions. are they resentful, judgmental, gossiping, self centered, acting on ego? if so, regardless of 'time' look for someone else to work with. AA saved my life. and now with this little band thing - i get to live my life. check out my sponsors website: www.theaaway.com there is an awesome meditation on the homepage. PM me with your thoughts.

dont' forget the Lobster Bisque. even on mushies....that would be awesome.

it's natural to be 'concerned' - but don't take concern to the point of paranoia. the docs have done this thousands and thousands of times before. you're fine.

A pound of fat = approx 3500 calories. we all have a 'base metabolic burn'. just by doing nothing our bodies burn calories. for me, for example, it's 3400 calories. you can find out your own base caloric burn by using this basic formula: Multiply 12 calories times the number of pounds you weigh. That means a 130 pound woman burns about 1,560 calories a day just with normal activity (65 calories per hour). *the more you weigh this formula skews a bit. > 350lbs so the math is easy. if i eat 1500 calories in one day and i burn 3400 naturally in a day, that means i burn 1900 a day net/net. so a little more than 1/2lb a day. times that by 7 = 3.5lbs a week. there is a point where if you don't eat enough you won't lose. your body goes into starvation mode and refuses to get rid of anything. before getting banded i dropped 44lbs from aug 1st to dec 15. i was eating approx 1900-2300 calories, hitting the gym at least 4 times a week. in my work out i was burning approx 600-800 calories. so...eating 2000 - burning 700 = 1300. 3500 base burn minus 1300 = 2200. slightly more than 1/2 pound a day. when i hit a plateau i added 500 calories to shock my body and it worked...craziest thing. the problem for me was i had a flood at the house and had to move into a hotel for 3 months. Breakfast, lunch and dinner 'room service' = diet goes down the tubes. *this is what has worked and has not worked for me. everyone is different. figure out what works for you.

you sound like you got a grip on things. good luck bro. check in with us from time to time to update. peace.

so funny. my first BM was solid (day 2), there after it's all been diar (only on day 5). but it looks like i poor'd my Protein shake in the toilet. freakin nasty. i'll upload pics if you want.:smile:. j/k

are any of you able to eat 1600-1900 caloires in a day. when i work out i burn about 800. eating 1200 a day and burning 800 is not a good formula for me. in the past, during successful attempts at losing weight, i've had to be around 2K in calories and burning about 500-700 on gym days (4 x's a week). i'm concerend with not being able to put down close to 1800-2000 cal's. your thoughts?

sounds like gas to me.

coming from a diet coke drinking champion. all sodas are very bad for you. read this: Don't Drink the Diet Coke i agree with the bloating pushing on the band causing erosion. that sounds believalbe. i've gone 4 days without DC's. i havene't done that in 10+years. i have no desire to drink them. also my nutritionist said that DC's can clear car batteries, and tenderize meat. ok then. nuf said.

what a difference a day makes. what a difference gasx strips make. (thanks bandiva) Yesterday was incredibly pain full with my gas pains. i've read and read about people experiencing these pains. it never hit home until I felt them. i felt like i had been kicked in the chest by Anderson Silva (must be a MMA fan to get the reference). if you don't know who Anderson is, think Bruce Lee. I had a good buddy of mine swing by RiteAid and grab some Milk Of Mag and some GasX strips. i used 3 strips within 45 mins. and the gas started to leave my body - :biggrin:. and the relief came shortly thereafter. i've used my pain meds about half of the time. and this morning i felt a small amount of pain near the port area. not bad, but noticeable. It was nice to have the gas pain somewhat lessened and be able to feel other pain in my body. this morning i took a tbl spoon of my meds and feel ok. i have a weird amount of energy today. I put on 5lbs at the hospital (IV Fluids), and from my weigh in of 353lbs right after surgery to now (338) - i'm down 15lbs. my face looks a little thinner and my stomach is slightly less plump. i still have a long road ahead of me, and that is OK. at least i am, like all of you guys/gals, being proactive about getting healthy. i will say it's nice to look at all the crap food in my kitchen and to know that i can't have any of it. i am looking forward to eating scrambled eggs, oatmeal, mushies etc etc. this h20 and Protein shakes are getting old. i love the step i took. i'm proud of all of you who have taken it. and for those of you who are almost at your surgery date - stay excited - it's all worth it. purpose - looking better, feeling healthier, living longer and doing more

yeah.. tell me too. i just called my doc and they said that if it feels like 'chest pain' to go to ER. if it feels like 'gas pains', then that's normal. how am i supposed to differentiate between the two? i also just started eating some Jello. and with a bite the sized of 1/2 table spoon, when the jello goes down and get to the approx location of the band, it is a little uncomfortable. are all of these symptoms natural?

so my symptoms are: sore spot in the middle of my chest (mid sternum). my chest feels like i have bronchitis all the time. the pain meds (Hydrocodone APAP Solution) seems to take a bit of the edge off, but does not kill all them pain. also is there anything else i can do to help the pain (besides walking). i walked the other day, and after 4 blocks felt pretty sihtty. that is so weird to me, because before the opp i could do 45min on the treadmill at 3.8mph and 1.5% grade. now i'm winded and in pain the day after my banding - walking only 4 blocks or so.

things went great PLAIN. thanks for asking. just dealing with some gas pains right now. kinda sux. but i know they go away shortly.

nice. i was where both of you are at 2 days ago. my band got put in yesterday @ 6am. everything went well, i never felt anything during or shortly after the procedure. i will say, be prepared for the gas pains. if i'm chillin in my chair not moving, it's ok. but i walked today for 30+ minutes. and i was in a lot of pain. it felt like the feeling you have when you have bronchitis (you know when you cough). but it feels like that all the time. pain meds help, but don't knock out the pain. i guess its only a few days of the gas pain. walk alot. you'll both be fine!!!

dup...,.....

my surgery is tomorrow am (5:30am). today i was told to eat a light Breakfast and have clear fluids the rest of the day and nothing by mouth after midnight. so far so good. all i've had after breakfast has been h20 and chicken broth. two quetions.... is chicken broth considered 'clear liquid'? i'm thinking of having some Jello. would that pass as clear liquid? thanks.

don't forget the miso Soup. super low in calories and oh so good. my last dinner b4 my surgery was NY Steak and Sushi. oh yeah, and a cup of chili. i know how to do it right. but thanks for the intel. i'll be doing a little shasimi and miso as soon as i'm allowed.

nice. i really like this forum. i drop a post in there and in about an hour or so i get soooo many responses. just awesome. good luck to the other o five, o fivers. by the way.....i'm freaking hungry right now! lol. i took my daughter to a pool birthday party today. freaking pizza, cake , Snacks....and i'm chillin on chicken broth. damm. in the old days i would have eaten 3 slices, sneaked another 2 when others weren't looking and eaten the last one while i offered to throw the boxes away. not to mention i would have looked for the largest piece of cake from all the cut pieces and made my way over to it. but you know what....i don't have to do that anymore!!! oh yes siiiiiir.

nice. i'm going in at 5:30am.. i'm first on the table. i hope the doc is warmed up.

shrinko de mayo.... hilarious. mine is on monday to. i'm nervous also. happy, excited and to be completly honest - nervous. we're in this together - on the same day. good stuff!!! i throw a prayer down for you SS. and you too GF.

getting ready for my procedure on Monday. happy to say the least. but among the mountain of paperwork i signed today - one piece spoke about "possibly" waking up with the intubation apparatus still in my throat and to "remain calm". ok. sure. remain calm. got it. my question is - did anyone on this board, who had the lap band, wake up with this tool still in place? thanks.

not a cop...yet. planning on trying after i get down in weight. always been a dream of mine.

"perfect" and in your doctor will be "perfectly" happy to take your money (or your insurances' money). lol.

welcome bro. don't worry about the ?. what ever the ? is. ? = empty calories. don't need ? to have a good time. If you are concerned that much about ?, then you might want to look at your relationship with ? like you're looking at your relationship with food. from what i hear, you can still have a couple ?. in moderation is what they say. for me, i had to cut out ? and ? and ?. with my personality, additive as HELL, anything that was close to ? was a killer for me. either way... good luck with your decision and good luck with your wedding. hope to see you on LBT more often. cheers. well...that was prolly a bad sign off.... how about C YA!