angelshere

No, after discussing it with my doctor, I don't believe I am too tight! It is not a problem for me that there are some foods I cannot eat.....there are days when I can eat very tender, lean steak, or very tender chicken, but I never know when that will be. My band, like many others, is fickle and I am still getting to know it so that we can peacefully live together! I feel fortunate that my doctor is very involved in follow-up and aftercare for all his band patients. There's a lot of security in knowing that any questions or concerns are quickly resolved by a phone call or a visit to his office. Recently, I found a great low carb cheesecake recipe that is delicious and very low carb (I make it without crust). It is satisfying and fairly healthy, and is even good for breakfast! Nancy

Phyl: Congratulations on your amazing success! 100 pounds is an awesome milestone. Don: You are doing great. Keep up the good work. Twirl: Are you feeling better now? Are you able to keep small amounts of food down comfortably? Good luck everyone. Merry Christmas! Nancy

I think low carb is the way to go, too. However, I often get stuck with solid protein, no matter how small the bites or how well I chew. So, I have to be very careful of what I eat. Luckily I live alone, and if I can't have it, it's not in my house. Since I'm a teacher, I get lots of goodies (that I always give away) from my dear students. My treats are nuts, sf goodies, and tea, lots of tea! Are the rest of you able to eat deli meat, steak, ground beef and chicken? I can only handle fish, seafood, cheese and eggs, primarily. Good luck to us all, especially during the holidays, with all its temptations. Nancy

Wow! Bombero, congrats on the amazing weight loss! You are inspiring to many of us! I think many of us also have more restriction in the morning and early afternoon. I've gotten to where I either skip lunch or have a protein shake; for breakfast, I just have coffee and very runny oatmeal (or a shake). For myself, I am grateful for the restriction and want it to continue (as I have a lot more to lose). I would be thrilled to have lost 128 pounds by my one year anniversary! Nancy

Twirl I agree with everyone here. You must talk with your doctor and often! We can provide emotional support but your doctor will help you with all your medical issues. It is easier as time goes on, I promise you that. Small sips and eating small portions (yes, even small portions of SF jello, pudding and soup) work best for most of us. Even now, if I eat too fast because I am in a hurry or forgot to eat and am feeling hungry (usually more emotional than physical hunger), even a cheese stick can get stuck! So, it is a learning process for many of us. Your band is a wonderful tool, and if you give it a fair chance, listening to your doctor and following all the bandster rules, I believe you will lose weight and get healthy in no time. Good luck and hang in there, my friend. Nancy

Hi Twirl, Please call your doctor's office asap and tell them it is an emergency. Given your medical issues, it is even more important that you keep in touch with your doctor if and when problems arise. Good luck, dear, we are all rooting for you. Please let us know what happens with your doctor.s advice and how you are doing. Nancy

Hi Twirl, I was banded June 10 and was once on 14 meds for BP and arthritis. My insurance required a 6 month pre-surgery diet that was doctor supervised. My doctor required Optifast for 2 weeks before surgery. By the time I had my surgery, I was pretty much off most of my meds and afterwards, I didn't need anything (not even pain meds!). Good thing, as I cannot swallow pills now! Maybe you could crush your pills and take them with yogurt, or if capsules, open them and stir the contents into yogurt? I would talk with my doctor about this, if I were you. Good luck, Nancy

Thank you all for your kindness! The best news to me is that no matter what rate I lose this weight, it will all come off and it will stay off! Reading all your posts is so encouraging to me, and probably to lots of others, as well. The amazing part is that I have rarely been tempted in all this time, and I do go out to eat with friends quite often. Fish or soup are always my favorites when I eat out, and leftovers are always good for another meal or two. Now I must admit that Friday night I volunteered to work at a parent's night out at my school---the homemade chocolate chip cookies smelled way too good, so I covered them with foil and kept away from them! Luckily, I can give away sweets and goodies that people give me (if I keep it out of my home, I can't be tempted in a moment of weakness). The mere idea that a little one wanted to give me something is what matters so much; giving the goodies away keeps me in control of what I eat. Honestly, I thought the holidays would be harder (but I haven't survived them yet!). I found that turkey was hard for me to eat, in more than a bite or two. It's reassuring when I can't have/don't want something that I used to eat, and probably in excess, before the band. I thank God daily for this band (and many other blessings, of course). Nancy Nancy

Congrats on Onederland, Liza! Orea, you are an inspiration to us all....what an amazing job you have done (and are still doing). Joanne: you will do beautifully with your band. Your attitude and good habits, even before the band,, will pay off for you soon. I haven't posted in a while for 2 reasons: I have been soooo busy at school (lots of new little ones and meetings out the ears, not to mention enough papers to bury myself in!), and I have been stuck. My weight loss is slow, much slower than I would like, but I am eating small amounts, protein first and occasional small amounts of low-carb veggies. For snacks, I will eat a handful of almonds, a sf popsicle, or a Dannon lite yogurt, frozen. Lots of water. Lots of walking. So I know it will come off. You all keep me motivated by your inspiring posts. Thanks so much and Merry Chrstmas to all! Nancy

KarenIn: Congratulations! Wow! You are doing so well, you inspire me! I haven't posted in a while, but have read everyone's posts. I think I am the queen of plateaus and slow weight loss. But it is coming off, albeit slowly. And the good news is, I won't gain any of it back. I try to console myself with the fact that, I hope, I will need less plastic surgery with such a slow weight loss....:cursing: Nancy

One of the things that has helped my psychological cravings for sweets is almonds: cinnamon almonds or raw almonds.....Costco sells them and a handful is such a treat! Another thing I just discovered at Costco is ground flax seed.....you can add a scoop to oatmeal or soup or a shake (just about anything). It seems to havee no taste, but has lots of nutrients, like Omega-3, etc. It is low carb and it is very filling! It even helps with depression (which has been an intermittent problem for me and doesn't help me to stay with a healthy program). Thank you all for being here for me; when I have been down, your posts have inspired me. Nancy

Orea, you have lost 75 pounds, primarily on sheer willpower. That is awesome! I know it is tough for you right now, but once you get a decent restriction, that combined with your amazing willpower, will enable you to lose the weight you want to lose. You are an inspiration to so many of us! Keep up the good work, and don't lose faith in yourself. It's human to cheat occasionally, but the band will help us keep off the weight we lose---that is the miracle and the secret for our bands. Our friends who have had bypass might lose faster, but they don't have the tool we have to help us keep the weight off once it is lost. Orea, you can do this---you have proven that to us all. Now you just have to remember how much you want to get healthy, and you will get there. Good luck! Nancy

Wow! Lizalee, you have done incredibly well. I empathize with your feelings of being out of control. While that hasn't yet happened to me (I am totally afraid of cheating, as I fear I won't be able to get back with the program), I do "cheat" on healthy food sometimes....sad, I know. It's entirely emotional for me, and there really is no excuse for it, but I have done it and probably will again....who ever heard of "cheating" on cottage cheese, for goodness sake? My one redeeming factor is I don't have any "bad" food in my house and avoid it like the plague when I am away from home. If you look at what you have accomplished and think about what you need to do to get to your goal, I know you can do it. You have already lost over 2/3 of the weight you wanted to lose. That's just remarkable. Good luck! Nancy