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 all... Was LapBanded in NYC on 9-5-2008... down 105 lbs since then... zowwy...happyHAPPY to have the Blessing of being LapBanded!... What I'm now finding sssoooo annoying is that 99.9% of the time, friends and family have deemed themselves to be "The Fashion Police" :mad2:, like, no matter WHAT I choose to wear, "...you have SUCH a figure now, why don't you show it off more??... don't you think your husband will be prouder of you if you flaunt your accomplishment?...",:thumbup: to the complete opposite "...geez, those jeans make your legs look like pencils: don't you think you should be wearing something more 'normal':thumbdown:..." It's like I'm damned if I do and damned if I don't!... reallyREALLY appreciative of the veryVERY few who comment "...wow: good for you!... keep up the good work!...as long as you still feel good and your health is fine, power to you!!..." etc. What I think I need is some snappy-comeback lines, other than my current "I'm quite happy with how I look thank you!...in my humble yet correct opinion, I look just fine!" Will appreciate any and all suggestions. Thanks for the vent...:smile2::thumbup::w00t: Wishing you all bountiful good health in your journey! 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

Hi Froggie D: Aunt Suzie here... there are THOUSANDS of LapBandsters on this resourceful website who can validate every emotion and angst you might be having, and that's a large part of the reason you (and we all) are here... there's strength in numbers!:wub: I used to email my husband at his job at 9:30 a.m. and ask him what he wanted for dinner?... we'd sometimes go out occasionally with other couples to get pizza for dinner: I'd eat three slices and STILL not feel full... did WW more times than I can count, had a personal trainer, had a nutritionist, I've got a very physically demanding job... I did every thing modern medical conventional medicine tells you to do, but I got heavier and heavier... I n-e-v-e-r, and I mean NEVER felt full pre-LapBanding.... never. Felt like I was always "at war" with my body and it's seemingly never-ending appetite.:laugh: LapBanding was my last hope!... and quite frankly, whilst I 101% TOTALLY understand your angst, I, personally, (and again, everyone's experience is different), on the morning of my surgery, felt a great sense of calm and Zen, like, I worked HARD to get to this point: my last tool of weight loss success was awaiting me... it's like that old saying "If you want to cross the bridge, you have to pay the toll...." and having LapBanding Surgery was the toll I had to pay to FINALLY have the tool to a healthy and permanent weight loss... :smile2: You ABSOLUTELY can expect-the-unexpected... KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE PRIZE Froggie D! :tongue2: There are over 20 decades of documented guidelines and pointers available to make it do-able FOR LIFE. RRRRRReallyREALLY glad we have a comfy recliner chair at home, because I, personally, could NOT sleep in our bed post-surgery... incisions oooooooouched: since I'm a "side sleeper", it was impossible to sleep in bed... but after that first week of sleeping in the recliner, I returned to bed and slept just fine... and here I am, 18-months-post-surgery: my husband tells everyone that I'm "the cheapest date in town..." (ha!!!), because if we have enough $$$ to go out to dinner somewhere, I'll have a cup of Soup, plus an appetizer, and I'm sssssssso STUFFED!, and my tastebuds are happy too! If your doctor hasn't already told you, you will learn from here (especially from me!) that it reallyREALLY IS TRUE that "it takes a full year for you and your LapBanding to get acquainted with each other"... this tool will work for you if you give it the time... EYE ON THE PRIZE!! :thumbup: Keep me in-the-loop and if I can assist you at all, I absolutely will! TAKE A DEEP BREATH and think good thoughts! Wishing you the bestest, Aunt Suzie p.s.: I'm so NOT AT ALL "TECHIE", so I hope I posted/responded correctly to you!

I was banded in NYC on 9-5-2008. Went for check-ups with surgeon, but he refused to give me a fill until the six-months point, because I was losing weight so beautifully! LapBand surgery has indeed been a blessing and "the answer" for me. BUT LET's STICK WITH YOUR CONCERN: yes indeed, The LapBand can be a bit fickle... there are indeed days-on-end that I have zero-nada-zilch-zippo-NO APPETITE WHATSOEVER, but I make 101% certain to have at l-e-a-s-t three (3) lower sugar shakes (I personally like the Carnation Instant Breakfast Lower Sugar in Rich Milk Chocolate). Keeps your proteins and other needed nutrients in check! YOU HAVE TO BE KEENLY AWARE that if you doNOT give your body the nutrients it needs, you'll feel sluggish, your hair will start to fall out, and and and... ALSO: if you can't cut up and swallow a daily multivitamin, go to a quality health food store to buy liquid daily-multi vitamins, or, I sometimes buy Flintstones Chewables (with a coupon!), to get some additional vitamins in... muchoMUCHO important... The first time I started to notice a complete and utter LACK of appetite, I had a mini-freak-out!!!, but a good one nonetheless... pre-LapBand, NOTHING EVER made me feel "full" and I was ccccconstantly preoccupied with food! Now?? Nope... Since 9-5-2008, I'm down 105 lbs... UNREAL to me... HappyHAPPY being LapBanded, and wishing you the same in your journey! Aunt Suzie

9-16-08 Yo everyone: I was banded on 9-5-08 in NYC... all in all, this website has been an AWESOME resource! Bless every one of you and all your helpful hints and honesty in sharing your experiences. I am NOT AT ALL good at this "computer stuff" of chat rooms, graphics, etc., but I absolutely had to try to respond here, so I hope I'm doing it correctly: a) I work as a Massage Therapist. Soooo many of you write about how a heating pad can help... yes, that's true!!... but, a bigger help, I think, is to do hot towels for yourself: I recommend these to clients quite often... it's simple: take a clean wash cloth or clean dish rag, get it gooooood and soaking wet, WRING IT OUT, then microwave it for three minutes??, or four minutes?? (depends upon how much heat you can take for yourself...), then take it out of the microwave and shake it out for four or five seconds, and drape it over your neck or shoulder or lower back or whatever is ouching... you literally will feel your muscles say "aaah! thanks!!" Then, as it's cooling off, have ANOTHER in the microwave. Keep switching them and it should REALLY help you.... and: I, personally, found the book FIGHTING WEIGHT by Khaliah Ali to be a w-o-n-d-e-r-f-u-l resource overall... read it a dozen times pre-surgery and at least twice in the past week... That's it for now... KEEP THE FAITH and know that it can only get easier from here... it'll probably be a year before my LapBand and I get rrrrreally adjusted to each other, and I'm looking forward to it! Miss Jake

Re: Losing so s l o w l y 9-15-08, 4:40 p.m., and sunshiny in the general Princeton, NJ area! This is just a "general" posting: I've v-e-r-y new to all this chatroom stuff and not sure I'll be good at it! Ha... SORRY, but I'm wayWAY annoyed at the website "banner" for lapbandtalk.com... ANNOYING!... why, oh why, is there a photo of a smiling woman??... tell me why there isn't a woman AND a man??... like, MEN HAVE NEVER HAD GOOD Lap Band EXPERIENCES AND SUCCESS??... Having only a woman, and not both a woman AND a man, perpetuates the idea that WOMEN need to be thinner and attractive, and men?, doesn't matter so much for them... :tt1: PLEASE GET CURRENT, AND I DARE SAY GET CORRECT, and change this website banner to include a man! Respectfully yours, Miss Jake - end-

Re: Losing so s l o w l y 9-15-08, 4:40 p.m., and sunshiny in the general Princeton, NJ area! This is just a "general" posting: I've v-e-r-y new to all this chatroom stuff and not sure I'll be good at it! Ha... SORRY, but I'm wayWAY annoyed at the website "banner" for lapbandtalk.com... ANNOYING!... why, oh why, is there a photo of a smiling woman??... tell me why there isn't a woman AND a man??... like, MEN HAVE NEVER HAD GOOD Lap Band EXPERIENCES AND SUCCESS??... Having only a woman, and not both a woman AND a man, perpetuates the idea that WOMEN need to be thinner and attractive, and men?, doesn't matter so much for them... PLEASE GET CURRENT, AND I DARE SAY GET CORRECT, and change this website banner to include a man! Respectfully yours, Miss Jake - end-

9-15-08, 4:40 p.m., and sunshiny in the general Princeton, NJ area! This is just a "general" posting: I've v-e-r-y new to all this chatroom stuff and not sure I'll be good at it! Ha... SORRY, but I'm wayWAY annoyed at the website "banner" for lapbandtalk.com... ANNOYING!... why, oh why, is there a photo of a smiling woman??... tell me why there isn't a woman AND a man??... like, MEN HAVE NEVER HAD GOOD LAP-BAND EXPERIENCES AND SUCCESS??... Having only a woman, and not both a woman AND a man, perpetuates the idea that WOMEN need to be thinner and attractive, and men?, doesn't matter so much for them... PLEASE GET CURRENT, AND I DARE SAY GET CORRECT, and change this website banner to include a man! Respectfully yours, Miss Jake - end-