Aunt Suzie

6-18-11, 2:25 p.m. Hello again: "Aunt Suzie" here again, from Princeton-area, NJ... I've been blessed enough to have "mentored" more than a few, though I still find it difficult to navigate all the nuances of the LapBand Talk site, therefore, don't check into it very often... feel free to contact me directly: jakeornaments@aol.com, and will help you if I can! In the meantime, take a deep breath, take one day at a time, TAKE YOUR Vitamins and take time to reach out... your buddies are here for you! Enjoy the weekend! Aunt Suzie

6-18-11, 2:25 p.m. Hello again: "Aunt Suzie" here again, fromPrinceton-area, NJ... I've been blessed enough to have "mentored" more than a few, though I still find it difficult to navigate all the nuances of the LapBand Talk site, therefore, don't check into it very often... feel free to contact me directly: jakeornaments@aol.com, and will help you if I can! In the meantime, take a deep breath, take one day at a time, TAKE YOUR Vitamins and take time to reach out... your buddies are here for you! Enjoy the weekend! Aunt Suzie

2-9-11: Hello... "Aunt Suzie" here... banded September 2008, down 112 lbs.!, and have been at current weight for last six months or so... t-h-r-i-l-l-e-d! ANYWAY: little bit alarmed by your email... didn't your surgeon's office give you SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS about what to eat/not eat initially??... It reallyREALLY does take a year for you and your LapBand to get used to each other, and you are too soon post-op to be eating meats-chicken-seafoods...chili is okay, but not much, like, a half-cut will STUFF me, even to this day!, but you're not even more than a month post-op yet??... it always depends upon the individual, and yes indeed, everyone is different! For example, I can easily eat a bag of microwave popcorn if I want to, but many Bandsters canNOT... but I digress: let me get back on-point... * I ABSOLUTELY DO EAT MEAT, though only once, mmmmaybe twice a week... * chopped meat (hamburger) goes down really well... * HOWEVER: you mustMUST keep in mind the following: a) chew, cccchew and CHEW SOME MORE, until it feels like applesauce in your mouth, then swallow... you will NOT, repeat, NOT eat an entire burger: I eat it without the bun, and the meat-portion is probably the size of my thumb!!!, like, 2 oz maybe?, but my tastebuds are hhhhappy and my tummy is filled... c) I have a flank-steak-in-the-Crockpot recipe that is fffffffabFABulous... that Crockpot can make shoe leather taste like Filet Mignon! ahahaha! Though, again, I eat literally two-forkfulls-worth of the Crockpot Flank Steak, and that's IT. * I ABSOLUTELY DO EAT CHICKEN, but 99% of the time, the DARK MEAT is wayWAY more moist, and is more easily digestible, and ditto on points a) thru c) above... Crockpots are helpful in keeping variety in the LapBander's diet... WISHING YOU MUCHMUCHMUCH good luck with it! :welldoneclap: Aunt Suzie :lovechoc:

Hello: "Aunt Suzie" here, from the environs of Princeton-area, NJ... I've been blessed enough to have "mentored" more than a few, though will confess that I'm pretty much 0% "techie", (it's embarrassing really!) and find it difficult to navigate all the nuances of the LapBand Talk site, therefore, don't check into it very often... feel free to contact me: jakeornaments@aol.com, and will help you if I can! In the meantime, take a deep breath, take one day at a time, TAKE YOUR VITAMINS and take time to reach out... your buddies are here for you! Have a great weekend! Aunt Suzie

Hello: "Aunt Suzie" here... YOU ARE NOT ALONE in your thinking... muchomany of us can validate pretty much every emotion you are having in the psychologically-visual war of previous self vs. newer self... it is indeed part of the LapBand journey... SELF ACCEPTANCE is a h-u-g-e struggle for people, whether heavy or thin, male or female... TAKE A DEEP BREATH... be gentle with yourself... and keep up the good work! Yea for you! Aunt Suzie

Aunt Suzie here: congrats on being LapBanded! Mine was in Sept. 2008, and I'm down 112 lbs... I didn't get my first Fill until I was six (6) months post-surgery: weight loss was slow and steady, so the surgeon said "Nah, you don't need a Fill !..." But within six months, I was down 50 lbs at that point, and the LapBand was a wee-bit loose, so I finally had a Fill... Hope that my little tidbit of experience helps you... KEEP THE FAITH and keep up the good work! Yea for you! Aunt Suzie

8-1-10, 10:15 p.m.: Hello... "Aunt Suzie" here, from Princeton Junction, NJ... okay, so w/o grossing everyone out, I'll make this VERY EFFECTIVE SUGGESTION re: constipation issues... this is what I personally do, and my doctor asked my permission to share this with his other bandsters, as he said it was brilliantly simple and effective (he himself has a LAP-BAND® and tried this!)... Here goes: a) Everyday, I make it my business to stay hydrated...this means more than just water... I, personally, am a big fan of V8 Juice, for it's nutritive value and it's flavor... I have an 8oz bottle every day. :wub: Everyday, I open the V8 Juice, take two short sips, then I pour a scant-capful of Extra Virgin Olive Oil in it, shake it up a bit, and finish it (takes me 20-30 minutes to take in an 8oz beverage). c) EVOO is good for your heart, a quality brand one is almost flavorless, and a little goes a llllong way in relieving constipation issues... within two days, you'll realize that it's easier to "go"...muchMUCH less strain. d) Whilst you might not "go" EVERY day, you might go every other day, which is far more regular... understand?? GOOD LUCK everyone... this is one of the reasons I so appreciate Lap Band Talk.com ... a terrific resource indeed!! :thumbup:Aunt Suzie

8-1-10, 10:15 p.m.: Hello... "Aunt Suzie" here, from Princeton Junction, NJ... okay, so w/o grossing everyone out, I'll make this VERY EFFECTIVE SUGGESTION re: constipation issues... this is what I personally do, and my doctor asked my permission to share this with his other bandsters, as he said it was brilliantly simple and effective (he himself has a LapBand and tried this!)... Here goes: a) Everyday, I make it my business to stay hydrated...this means more than just water... I, personally, am a big fan of V8 Juice, for it's nutritive value and it's flavor... I have an 8oz bottle every day. :wub: Everyday, I open the V8 Juice, take two short sips, then I pour a scant-capful of Extra Virgin Olive Oil in it, shake it up a bit, and finish it (takes me 20-30 minutes to take in an 8oz beverage). c) EVOO is good for your heart, a quality brand one is almost flavorless, and a little goes a llllong way in relieving constipation issues... within two days, you'll realize that it's easier to "go"...muchMUCH less strain. d) Whilst you might not "go" EVERY day, you might go every other day, which is far more regular... understand?? GOOD LUCK everyone... this is one of the reasons I so appreciate LapBand Talk.com ... a terrific resource indeed!! Aunt Suzie

Hello Divalicious: Aunt Suzie here: also live in NJ, near Princeton University... you and I had the same surgeon at NYU... I was banded 9-5-08 and I'm now down 105 lbs.... but listen: since I am zero and I mean Z-E-R-O percent "techie", I quite frankly have a bit of a tough time navigating the LapBandTalk website, although I do love it so! Should we be in contact via the new Mentor section??, or do you want to Email me directly at jakeornaments@aol.com? Up to you... KEEP THE FAITH and take a deep breath! Will certainly help you if I can. Wishing you Blessings and the best that being LapBanded can offer. Aunt Suzie