jillrenee15

I also have an IUD, I got the paragaurd also because it lasts for 10 years, whereas the Mirena is only good for 5. The Mirena has hormones, like bc pills, that help to almost stop periods all together, where the paragaurd does not. You have one every month, mine are heavier than before I had one. They are both totally reversible at any time, but the Mirena may take a little longer to get pregnant once removed because of the hormones it contains. I felt absolutely nothing during insertion. No cramping, no pain, nothing. My doctor kept saying you might feel this now, it might hurt a little here coming up, etc, but I felt nothing. Quick and painless, took less than 10 minutes to insert. I had it done right after I had my second child. I'm only 32, so I knew I would have a long time to go before menopause, and didn't want to have a new one every 5 years.

lunch is easy!!! It just takes preperation the night before. I do a lot of chicken or tuna salad, light on the mayo. I have a few Fiber crackers with it. You could have a reduced fat cheese stick and some deli turkey rolled up. I make chilli and freeze small servings from the pot to take to work. Put some cheese on top and a few fritos. When we grill out, I cook an extra chicken breast so I can have chicken a cheese quesadilla the next day or two for work. Walmart has these stuffed chicken breasts in the freezer section, they are NOT the ones with all the high fat breading, I can cook them in the toaster oven at work or make it the night before and bring to reheat. To me, lunch is the easiest meal of the day. Breakfast is hard, I hate eggs, so have cottage cheese and a south beach high Protein bar. dinner is hard because what the kids will eat is different than what I can eat. At least at lunchtime I can plan ahead.

This is all excellent advice, and I'm glad I read it too. I'm only 6 mo out and still have a hard time deciding what to order. I really really really want a great big burger on the grill this weekend, with barbeque sauce and tomatoes, lettuce, etc. Spring Fever big time!!!! I'm gonna cook them, but don't know how much of one I'll be able to eat. If you really don't think there is anything you can eat when you go out, get a cup of Soup. I love restaurant soup, it is much better than the crap from the can, and I get it a lot. I try to stay away from the creamy ones though. You know those have got to be loaded with fat and calories. I'll order my soup, and my husband will give me 5-6 bites of whatever he's got if I want it, and I'm all set. We had mexican today for lunch, I did order my own plate this time. I eat about 1/4 of what was on it, my 2yo ate another 1/4, and I took the rest to work for my dinner. All in all, there will be something. You may only be able to eat 1/2 of it, but that's a good thing!!!!

I personally think Degree, in any flavor, is the best deoderant ever. I've used others thinking I'll try them because they are on sale, but I always end up giving it to my daughter and going to get some Degree. It just works.

The first fill is usually the worst. It is unknown and you are nervous. But, the needle part doesn't hurt, just a poke like any other. What might be the worst part is when the doctor is probing your port site (with his hands) to find exactly where to stick you. Your incisions and such are not fully healed yet on the inside and this part WILL probably hurt, so be prepared. Just relax, breathe easy and close your eyes. Hopefully yours will be an easy one and it will be over in about 2-3 minutes. Good luck!!!

I am in the same boat with my husband. He is glad I'm slimmer, getting closer to the weight I was when we met, which wasn't all that thin at 185. He loved me then and loves me now, but when we argue, I mean REALLY argue about something, the $11,000 I spent for surgery on myself just to lose weight and leave him always comes up. I just walk away. It's his insecurities talking, and there's nothing I can do about it. He'll have to fix himself because I can't do it for him. I'm tired of doing everything all the time. I have no plans or intentions to go anywhere, but it'll take him a year and a day to figure it out. He's a 40yo baby. Men.

Very good advice!! If you are at a sit down place, make sure you both order something different, that way if what you order doesn't agree, maybe you can trade, or share a little. I try to order things I never cook at home like fish and seafood, when we eat out(they stink up the house). Have things that you know you don't normally have. Make it special. It is your honeymoon!! You can always skip the food and stay in your room too!!!:laugh: Congratulations

I had this too when I first started using light (5lb) hand weights. I have a tendon cyst on one wrist and it flared up every time. I tried to really pay attention one time and noticed I was gripping the weight as hard as I could. Loosen up your grip and palm the weight. Curl your fingers around it just hard enough not to drop it. Start with a lighter weight maybe (3lb?) and work your way up to heavier. I noticed after the first couple of times of loosening my grip on purpose, I didn't have the pain in my wrists I was having before. Try and see if that works...Good luck and don't hurt yourself!!:laugh:

I really have no idea why it comes back after a week or two, but seems like it does. Mine is like that anyway. Got a small fill Friday, seems like it's a good one. Good restriction, just hope it lasts a few months. I always avoid the week of my "time" too. Seems bad for me to have a fill that week because my band is always tighter than "normal" around then. Something for us girls to think about.

I never gave up coffee either. I use SF FrenchVanilla coffeemate in mine. I have 2-3 cups every morning, and if i'm on a weird shift, another 2 maybe at work. You just need to know how it affects you. I can't eat in the mornings right away, and the hot liquid stops my tummy from growling until I can eat a late breakfast. It may be a diuretic, but if you're getting enough water in it won't matter.

It is true that you may just be swollen and irritated from the fill and the throwing up and that it will go away in a couple more days, BUT the more trouble you are having, the longer the irritation and swelling will last also. Perhaps consider a teeny unfill? Maybe just the .7cc will do it. It will make you more comfortable and in a few weeks you can go back and get a little bit more after your tummy has calmed down. I've been overfilled and I know how horrible that experience was. I could only take it for 24 hours and went back to have some taken out. It took almost a week for my stomach to calm down before I could eat anything solid or drink cold liquids. I could actually feel the swelling in my esophagus and such when swallowing. It was not pleasant.

Well, I'm not as far along as I'd like to be. I too was done in by the cold weather, and am waiting on spring. I'd like to get outdoors and walk the dogs down the street while pushing the 2yos little car thing. I wish I'd lost more weight in the past 6 mo. I've been kind of lazy for the past two weeks, and making some not so good food choices, because I haven't wanted to cook either. I need to get back on track in the worst way. Finding the energy and initiative is the hard part....

I had my surgery in Detroit also, and have been very happy with my doctors and fills and such. I just wish I could find someone closer to home. It's a three hour drive for me to get there. I tried calling the bariatric doctors who are in Alma, and they would not take me for fills because they didn't do the surgery. They asked why I went to Detroit in the first place, and when I told them I was self pay and they charge double what the doctor in Detroit did, she had no comment. There really are no doctors who will do fills in the central part of the state. I know there are some up in Traverse City, but that's just as far for me as Detroit. The center in Flint would take me, but the fill would cost $500 out of pocket, since my insurance has a no weight loss clause. So, I'm stuck where I'm at. Hopefully now that I am so close to good restriction, the number of times I'll have to drive down there from here on out will drop considerably. Good luck to all Michiganders!!!

It is normal to feel restricted, and then lose it a few days later. Seems like our stomach lining swells and is irritated after a fill, and when that goes back to normal, you don't have as much restriction. Don't be surprised though that if as you get more fills, your restriction from a fill will come back a week or two or three later. Some it hits like a ton of bricks, especially when you are getting up there in cc's.

I am in the same boat lately. I had a fill and little unfil the end of January. Was fine and really loose up until yesterday. I think it is my shift work. Every time I'm on 3rd shift, my band is wacko. I couldn't eat much all day today, pb'd twice on what I did eat after not doing that for weeks. Had a snack at 2am and almost got stuck on that too. I go for a fill on friday, which I really thought I needed last week when I scheduled it, but now I'm not so sure. I haven't lost much this past month since the little unfill, and have been really frustrated with my bad choices and laziness. Our whole family has been sick for two weeks, the first week with rotovirus, last week with colds, so I haven't had the time or energy for exercise. That treadmill in my room has been giving me dirty looks for days. I'm wavering on whether or not to go for my fill. I think once I'm off third shift next week I'll be back to normal and sorry if I don't get the fill. I'm hoping for .5-.75cc to get me back up to where I was before. This weight loss has been much slower than I thought it would be. I'm almost 6mo out and down almost 40lbs. Kind of disappointed, but I know most of it is my own fault, so I'm disappointed with myself.

My list of no-no's includes spaghetti noodles(other shapes are ok), any kind of potato except mashed or baked, (like frenchfries, chips, hashbrowns), buns for a hamburger or sandwich, and scrambled eggs. You wouldn't think french fries would be troublesome, but I slime every time I eat one. Just one!!

I have half a well toasted whole grain english muffin with Peanut Butter. I can't handle too much in the mornings either. A yogurt and a south beach high Protein bar is my favorite breakfast. I also like Kash GoLean crunch Cereal in my yogurt, it's very high in protein. I do make homemade egg/sausage/cheese mcmuffins occasionally though. My husband and kids like them too. Spray a small bowl(about the same diameter as the muffin) with pam. Scramble an egg in it with a fork and cut in a little precooked sausage or bacon (I micro my meat first on papertowels to squeeze out grease, then put it in the egg). Micro for 50-55 seconds. Put on a well toasted whole grain em with a slice of lowfat cheese. Good breakfast on the go. Can be reheated even if you want to save half for your lunch.

I haven't had a beer since last summer. Since it's winter, I haven't really wanted one, but I know once summer's here again, I'm gonna want one when it's hot out and we're at the lake or camping. I've moved to 7&7's with extra ice. This ice helps to let all of the fizz out of the 7up.

Don't be discouraged! Sit down and really think about what you are doing in your life. Go over the rules. food journal Protein First (NOT shakes, why drink calories when you can chew them?) Water Excersize Fills Doctors, Dieticians I've spent the last month lying to myself about my eating and such. When I really thought about it I could see I was gravitating toward slider foods just so I could eat more. chips, Cookies, popcorn, Cereal. You can eat a huge quantity of these types of things even at a good restriction. Don't give up. The band is to help you change your eating habits. But you have to help the band too. You can do it!! PS BayCity: Hi from Midland!

I still smoke also, though I really want to quit. I tried the Chantix but it gave me horrible nausea before I had the band, so I'm worried about what it will make my stomach feel like now that I have it. It did really work though, most cravings were gone, and if you do slip up while taking it, you don't get that "ahhhh" feeling from having a cigarrette. All doctors are different, some say if you smoke, you won't get the surgery. Others are indifferent. I did buy a box of cinnamon nicorette this week, and am trying to work myself up for quitting this coming week.

I totally agree that not everything has to be done around the house. Those of us with older children and husbands have to lay it down. You WILL help around here. I need some time to myself every day. It is a matter of give and take. I have 2 kids and a husband who is gone 5 days a week. He only comes home on the weekends. The kids are 2 1/2 and 11. I work a swing shift so scheduling for me is crazy. I have day care the weeks that I work day shift and midnight shift. My mom watches the kids the week I'm on afternoon shift. She is great with the kids and even does a load or two of laundry and picks up and such for me that week, which is a lifesaver!! My son who's 2 1/2 will sit and watch me when I'm on the treadmill, waiting for his turn!! My 11yo daughter is pretty self sufficient and has plenty of chores each week she knows are hers to do without being told. Us Moms have two full time jobs, and we can't do it all alone. Delegate Delegate Delegate.....

I'm a mixer operator at a silicone manufacturing/chemical company, a wife, and a mother of two.

I know as we lose weight, our port migrates a little before the scar tissue is hard and fast set. Since you are putting on weight, maybe yours has shifted now because of the extra weight? Just a thought.

Have you ever used a measuring cup for water? Leave it on the counter and just look at it. Then pick it up and hold it at eye level and read it. The readings will be slightly different because of the angle you were looking at it. Same thing goes for the syringe. If one time they read it standing up while you are lying down and next time they bend over and really look at eye level, there could be two different readings.

My doctor told me somewhere around 6-7cc is where most people feel they are in a good spot, after that as they lose weight, a tiny fill will go a long way. .25-.5cc. I was up there at 6.5, went for a little fill and ended up having 1.25 taken out the next day after being way too tight. You were probably swollen a little from the fill and it took a couple of days to calm down. On your next fill, if you get one, a teeny bit will probably do it. And you may not need another one now for several months until you have lost a bunch of weight. Good luck on your weight loss!!!!