abrenner

Shalom chevre! How is everyone doing, and how were your secular holidays? Did you do anything special? Do any of you celebrate Xmas at all with non-Jewish friends? What do you do about enlightening non-Jews about Chanukah (especially the whole "it isn't a Jewish equivalent to Xmas" thing...)? Did ok here. Been ill with a weirdo condition since erev Yom Kippur that has helped me with appetite (as in I am not hungry as much), so I've lost about 4 pounds in the last two weeks - bonus! I don't know whether that would've happened if I wasn't sick and on the meds I now take. (I'm making too much spinal/brain fluid & have to take meds to bring that down for at least two months, maybe more.) Anyway, just checking in. Also, are any of you thinking of going to the convention? I am planning to go for the whole weekend and just enjoy the heck out of my time with other bandsters. All the best,

Thanks, Irish. That is VERY sweet of you.

Hi, Just got back from my doctor and was not allowed to get a fill today, even though it is clear I am not at my "sweet spot." I have been having an unrelated problem called papilledema that is caused by my body, for thankfully no known reason, producing too much spinal/brain fluid. The problem is that I am at high risk for vomiting until I get my last test done this week and can then start to take medication to reduce the fluid level, so the doctor was concerned that he might actually have to take saline OUT of my band for a few weeks until my intercranial pressure comes down. Since I have been very uncomfortable (dizzy & nauseous & have diharrea - it's been a LOVELY experience - NOT), but no vomiting, he won't unfill me for now. I go back in two weeks and will probably be able to start getting back to normal with fills and weight loss again, and will hopefully be cleared to go back to the gym, which I miss a lot. This is a totally unrelated health glitch to the band. It happens that the ONLY possible risk factor I have is being overweight. The tests are done to rule out serious causes like meningitis or brain tumor, and so far all the test prove I don't have those. I get a spinal tap on Thursday to be sure, but have no other symptoms for cause. The condition is then called "psudotumor cerebri" which means the fluid is caused by my body THINKING I have a brain tumor, but there isn't one. So anyway, I'm in a lousy mood and want to lose more weight. I was filled in August and have lost a whopping 17+ pounds. I haven't been allowed to work out for four weeks now and feel horrible all the time. Once I get on the medication to resolve this, which by the way is a diuretic - bonus! - I should start to feel better within a day or two. Thank goodness. This has been just awful to live with and I feel really down about having to start over again. And again. And again... Thanks for reading my vent. I just needed to get this out.

Hi everyone! I haven't been well the last week, so I've lost a bit more than usual. I can't get my ticker to work, but I'm at 179.8 this week. I was scheduled to see the fill doctor on Thursday but HE had to cancel - he had a minor procedure a week ago and isn't ready to come back to work yet, so I wont' see him until next Thursday. I can live with that. I just hope that I don't regain the extra pound I lost. It puts me just at the 20 pound loss mark, and I love it. I did ok on Thanksgiving and then over the weekend for Shabbat. I got something stuck on Thursday & it took almost an hour of PB'ing to get it unstuck. Didn't lose much by way of real food, but still yukky. That was the end for me, so I did really good. Not the way I wanted to do it, though. My illness has me feeling carsick all the time. My eye doctor thinks he found the problem, so hopefully once really bad things are ruled out I can get on meds & feel better. The upside - I'm eating a LOT less, LOL. Kind of like perpetual morning sickness, and there is NO way I could be preggers (no equipment anymore, and no husband, etc. - talk about a medical miracle if I was, LOL). Seems to be some fluid around my brain that shouldn't be there, but it can be resolved with diuretics and one short course of cortisone. I can't start treatment, though, until they rule out the really scary stuff. Oh joy - rapture! It really isn't as bad as it sounds. I just have to wait to get my treatment so I can get feeling better, get back to the gym, etc... That's my story. Hope you all had a fabulous Thanksgiving & Shabbat & weekend. All the best,

I did ok. Something got caught pretty early on in dinner so that was it for me. PB'd for almost an hour until it got loose. Blech, but it helped me lose an extra pound this week. Hope everyone is good! Can't get into tickerfactory to update, but I'm at 179.8 today! The upside of being ill this past week...

To the Planners: You probably already know this, but no matter what the price is that is listed on a website, most places will give you a discounted per-room price if you hold a block of rooms. If you get a general idea of how many people would be willing to book rooms, you can block them well in advance. And I mean like under $100.00/night, which would really be great. The closer to $60.00/night the better for me! And I would love to hear that some of us got together to contribute to a "scholarship" fund to help those who might need assistance with either travel or accommodations come to the conference. I am not well of by a long shot, but I can contribute some shekels to help others out - I feel it is that important.

Tova, I totally agree and in my brain and heart know that it will take time to get the weight off. I think what I am responding to (and I can't speak for RDK of course) is that I'm tentative about "owning" the fact that the band is working yet since I'm not yet sure I hit the right level of restriction. Learning to retrain my eating habits to make the most of the tool is something that I am ready to embrace as well. If I can lose 75 pounds in a year, that would be MORE than my expectations, and such a thrill, I can't even put it into words. I'm down another pound today - almost 1.5 since my fill last week! That is very good, I know. I can't imagine wearing clothing from the regular racks again. I have almost everything from about 30 pounds ago still in a closet so I have them to look forward to - they are 16's. The last things I got in regular (versus plus) sizes. Even getting back into them will be a gift. That said, thank you so much for your support and encouragement. May I ask a personal question? When you two work out (Tova and RDK), do you wear pants under your skirts? I know some frumsters who do, and hope you don't mind my asking. Thanks again. If you live on the east coast, would you consider going to some or all of the upcoming 2009 conference they are planning? I think I will go. Best,

Count me in! I prefer a NJ venue, FYI. Much cheaper and usually more bang for the buck.

ROFL, I hear you. I'm supposed to be transcribing meeting notes and have much done, so I'm playing a little. I'm not used to being at work yet - only the second full week since HH's over. I have to say that I knew I had some restriction after the first fill because four times in the month (about once a week) something got stuck and I had to PB. The first time really upset me. The last one something was just stuck and I needed to get it out - and then in a few minutes was able to go back and finish my dinner. That said, there is no doubt that the restriction as a tool is working. Not at the sweet spot yet, but this could be it. Today is the first day I'm on soft food after my fill, and I know that with full liquids and water/ice chips I can drink and eat and not get full very quickly. What I just noticed yesterday with the pureed food, and I thought might be a fluke until today, is that I don't feel hungry after I've eaten about 4-6 ounces, and THAT is a first. I CAN keep eating. So today I made a significant effort to stop. Now I'm counting the hours to see how long it holds me. If it works for more than another hour, we did it. Then the onus is going to be entirely on me - to learn and discipline myself to STOP EATING based on measuring my intake, not on how I feel. IF that works at 4-8 ounces per meal, I'll lose weight. And I'll feel very good about myself. My biggest challenge all these years with not being able to lose the weight was feeling hunger too quickly after I ate - sometimes as soon as 20-30 minutes after eating a hearty meal. Banding has made a significant difference, even though I could, up until my fill on Thursday, eat about two full cups. Yesterday was just about a cup or less. Today I stopped myself at a cup. I CAN do more, I just didn't. I don't feel as full now, two hours later, as I would if I'd eaten more, but that is likely to be part of my retraining as well, right? Ah, the lovely middle age Ashkenazi female body (post kids and post meno). Gotta love it! Thanks for explaining what NSV was. By the way, if your friends are anything like the people in my life, they are going to notice the difference in your size.

RDK, Mazal tov on the downsizing of your pantyhose!! I can imagine what a true kick it was. What is NSV? That's a new expression to me. I may know what it means once I hear what it stands for, but I haven't seen it written that way to know. Keep on keeping on! I lost a pound since my fill on Thursday - yay! I'm hoping I can keep going and not need another fill, but if I do, then I do. Best,

K, here's what I use: Integrated brand Whey Protein Isolate powder. OU-D. No lactose, no sucralose, no aspartame, no added casein, no acesulfame K, no artificial flavors, no inferior whey protein concentrate, no artifical sweeteners. I started getting it from Koshervitamins.com. They have sample packs for just under $6.00 for three flavors (they choose them randomly, but never seemed to have the flavorless available as a sample). It isn't cheap, that's for sure, and I run through 2+ 2 lb. containers a month (I have two "shakes" a day of 30-40 mg. protein/two scoops in each with about 5-8 ounces of rice milk and about six ice cubes - blend and yummo!). I found that Koshervitamins.com is great, but found the same powder for about $5.00 less at a place called bodybuilding.com. It is a hoot to buy from them because they are all into muscle building and sent me a magazine sample one time, but they carry all the flavors of the kosher protein. Once you find what works for you in powders and vitamins, you can search online for other distributors and see if you can find a less expensive one. Good luck! And RDK, good for you for losing another pound. We are almost the same weight now! I am 184.6, but had my fill yesterday and expect I'll lose a few over the weekend, because I'm still pretty restricted. I love your idea of pureeing chicken and meat for Pesach. That might just be my solution. I did that in the beginning and have some left for this fill as well. I also pureed Soup veggies. I put them into ice cube trays and freeze them and then put the cubes into ziploc bags for easy access and easy to take along (like for the HH or Thanksgiving). Until this fill I was able to eat dark meat poultry and some red meat if it was moist. It will be interesting to see if I can eat the turkey I will be making for my extended family in a few weeks, LOL. Shabbat Shalom!

Thanks for replying, RDK and all the rest. I'm not Orthodox, but I do keep glatt kosher (I'm not shomer). I also did a huge amount of research before I was banded to find good tasting kosher certified Protein powder and vitamins. As RDK says, they are clearly available, but not in many of the sites that the bariatric centers guide patients to. Also, there are places to purchase these things online where they will send you samples much of the time. That is how I knew I would be able to enjoy my protein "shakes." My sister, who had gastric bypass, has found that there aren't any protein powders she can take, but I want her to try mine. I can't drink milk or use soy products. I found a kosher certified powder that is whey protein but lactose free, and I use rice milk with it. (chocolate - Yummy!) I did ok during the HH this year. I get my fills on Thursdays, and only passed on challah once (I don't consult a Rabbi on this, sorry). I'm pretty good at liquifying challah in my mouth, even on the second day after a fill. Growing up my Orthodox rabbi, who was very well known, always told us that if you couldn't fulfill a mitzvah or law because of a health issue, that your health came first. I take that to heart. I consulted with my doctors about fasting on YK, and they asked me to stay hydrated. I didn't have to have my protein or vitamins for the day. I only sipped Water two or three times during the entire day and only when I felt I was truly dehydrated. This year I was in bed with a heavy head cold and fever during YK, so that probably helped. Has anyone started to think about what to do during Pesach? I know I can go a couple days without the protein, but don't yet know whether I will be able to eat enough to get sufficient protein for the full eight days. Now THAT is a concern for me. I can live without a Vitamin or Calcium supplement for a week, but am not yet sure about the protein. I may be anticipating a problem that doesn't exist, but it is something I'm thinking about now, well ahead of time so that I can plan what to do. Especially because I follow Ashkenazi tradition for foods I can eat. I'm really enjoying this process overall. I hope everyone has a wonderful Shabbat and a successful outcome with your bands. B'shalom,

Cyndy: 24 pounds at two weeks post op is great!! Good for you. I know the first two weeks can be really tough in a lot of ways. I hope that you find things become more easy for you in some ways as the weeks progress. If you find that your depression increases, or starts to interfere with your ability to function comfortably or normally for more than a few more days, call your doctors and find out what they think might help. Obviously if you feel so bad that you think you might hurt yourself or others get to a doctor or hospital immediately! There is no reason for you to suffer, even temporarily, as you adjust to things and begin to process your feelings about food. That said, I hope that you are not opposed to finding someone professional to talk to about your food feelings/issues. It is nothing to be ashamed of, and it can really help. All the best, Amy

Emily, I hear you! I have lost a total of 16 pounds, and only three since my first fill apparently. I thought I would be doing better, but my nurses and doctors assure me it is just because I do not have sufficient restriction yet. I'm eating less than with no band, but more than 1/2 cup at a meal. I have to say that once I am sated, I stay comfortable and not ravenous between meals and can go at least 3 hours without a problem on average - often more. I am also exercising regularly. I re-joined my gym almost four weeks ago and have gone at least twice a week since (and am LOVING it - go figure). That may account for another pound or two that might've shown as weight loss since I am converting over some fat into lean muscle (yay lean muscle!). Anyway, the nurse assured me, and I want to pass this along to you, that it may take several fills to find your sweet spot, but you will definitely find it, and it will work. She told me not to judge myself by how well others here are doing and how much more they've lost. It is their body and metabolism versus mine. If in a year from now I am at or near my goal, then I've done well. I think if you look at the long haul versus the steps it takes to get there, it may help. This is a process, and processes take time. I'm here for you if you want to commiserate with someone else who is losing the weight slowly. (my ticker is not up to date - I get another fill tomorrow & will update it then)

That is so cool! I'm very happy for you - sounds like they found your sweet spot for weight loss! Good luck.

Lisa, That is the term that is used when the fill that works best for YOU individually is reached. Where you eat less and lose what you need and want to in a safe, healthy way and can then maintain that loss. It can be one fill for some people, or (if you read the boards) several fills to find the right level. My nurse said that for me it is obvious that I am committed to the process and that they just haven't found that fill level for me yet. My body, thankfully, knows how to heal, so it may take a few extra fills for me. Once the swelling went down after the surgery and again after the first fill I was practically unrestricted and can eat almost two cups of food at a time. And if I measure out my food and stick to the 1/2 cup I am still ravenous and can't go even an hour without extreme, painful hunger pangs. So it is obvious that I need another fill. I go in on 11/4 for that. Yay! But I'll take the 16-18 pounds I've lost so far and be happy. This morning my daughter and I could really SEE the difference for the first time in my body shape. Doesn't show at all on the scale, but it does in the way I look. Cool. Good luck!

Hi! I had my first fill a few weeks ago and for the first couple of days was aware that there was some restriction. But as usual, my body knows how to heal, and now I am eating more than they said I should be able to. I'm not losing weight, either. I went to my gastric center's support group meeting last night and spoke to the nurse afterwards. She assured me that it just means we haven't reached my "sweet spot" yet and not to lose hope. Don't lose hope! Even though the band is a tool and we are still responsible to eat responsibly and mindfully, apparently there really are some of us who need more than one adjustment (or six) until we get to that point where we can use the tool the way it is designed to work. (by the way, I haven't updated my ticker - I still have trouble with that. I've lost 16 pounds total now)

Hi Fellow August Bandsters! I have a question and I hope you can help. I am joining a gym tomorrow, and know that my limited exercise is part of why I am not losing more weight each week. I can live with that. I was only approved to go to the gym two weeks ago, and then got sick a few days later and have only been up and about again for 48 hours (heavy head cold followed by an adverse reaction to my flu shot that got into my tummy - not a happy week for me). Anyway, here's where I am. I had my first fill two weeks ago. For the first five days afterwards I was aware that I had less room and filled up faster. Now I'm back to feeling like I don't have any restriction. I don't get hungry as often and stay comfortable for MUCH longer than before I had a band, and for that I am most grateful. I know I need to work harder on re-training myself to stop eating when I have taken in enough food, whether I feel full or not. That is my current challenge and goal and I know this will take me some time. It is about re-training myself. So here's my question. What do YOU do to help yourself stop eating when you've taken in enough quantity-wise but still don't feel full? I can eat around this band like a champ - I can even sip Water WITH my food and then immediately afterwards if I want to (but I've already done well with learning to not drink with and immediately after meals. Not perfect, but I can clearly see I have a handle on that). Hopefully I'll start to see more of a difference in how I lose when I go back to the gym this week. I can't wait. I actually am someone who looks forward to the gym. I like the results so much! Blessings and thanks to you all. I think I fall within the range of normal for bandsters, but a little encouragement and support from those who walk this path with me would go a long way right now. (By the way, I haven't figured out how to automatically update my ticker, so it isn't showing my correct weight loss - I'm down 17 pounds now).

Heather, I totally agree with you that this is not a great site and that they need to make improvements. I do not find it very user friendly or easy to navigate, and I've had to call them three times to walk me through stuff (and still have trouble). My doctors' office wants their bandsters to use the site. They can log on and track our progress or lack of. I think that is the draw for them. But I don't care for it myself. I'd much rather be here on the boards where I am getting the support and encouragement I need, as well as the information about how to assist my band with my weight loss efforts (which are not going too well this week so far, to my dismay). Thanks for replying!

Peg, I think I am opened up so I can use the whole site. I'll check again. I did this with someone from the site just after my surgery (my doctor forgot to give me the insert card with my band so I don't have the actual band number). He said he gave me a number to use that would give me total access. I was able to enter my weights and my inches and see what I would look like at my ideal weight. Can you do that before you have total access? I'll look around later today and then let you know if I can navigate better. I still think I have trouble, and I wouldn't be surprised if it is because I don't have my true band number entered. Geez. Could they make this any more difficult? Thanks!

As of this morning I was 183.2! Doesn't sound like much, but a pound is a pound. I was lower because of a reaction to my flu shot that had me unable to eat for over 24 hours, but with Water and now eating again I'm back up. I can live with it. A pound is a pound!! Yay!

Peg, Please do go on! I have had trouble getting anything on the food journal to register. I can see it and click on it, but I can't update it to make it work. So anything - any tricks, tips, etc., please do send them to me either here or privately. I really need some help. I can click on any icon or bookmark, but then am not able to use the stuff when I get the page loaded (and I have cable access at home and am on a network at work, so it isn't that my computers aren't able to handle it - there is something about my particular site that I must be missing in order to get my stuff to load. I even have to enter my daily/weekly weights weird just to get them onto the site and updated for my doctors). Thanks so much! I'm printing out your first reply, and am looking forward to your coaching me through more, if you are willing. Best,

Can anyone here help me navigate the Realize My Success website? I can get on and enter today's weight (which I need to do for my doctors office to follow), but I can't seem to get a handle on how to really use the site to my best advantage. I looked at recipes today and none appeal to me, but that is more because I am not interested in what was offered. I can at least access that area. What other tools on the site do you find to be helpful? I have a hard time loading it on my pc at work and can't always see the entire screen. I'm fairly computer literate, but this site has me so frustrated! Would anyone with a good sense of how to use the site be willing to coach me along a little? Thanks so much!

Hi! I hope your banding went well. How are you doing so far? I should think you could start to eat Soup right now & there are lots of Kosher & yummy options out there for you. I practically lived on the squash soup after I was banded in August (just after tisha b'av). YK this year was pretty easy, but I did have to sip Water a few times on doctors' orders. My rabbi said I should listen to them and only sip when I felt it really necessary for my health. I'm so glad to find this forum. I don't know anyone personally who will admit to having a lap band who is also Jewish where I live in suburban Philly. Happy and healthy new year to you all! Put up my sukkah yesterday afternoon all but the s'chach. That goes up tomorrow (I have an old canvas pre-fab sukkah, thankfully). Gemar!

Ok subject matter experts here. I have a question. I had my first fill this morning (4 cc into my 10 cc band). I've had the sensation of being way over full with that pressure between my breasts most of the day, even though I haven't had any PB's and have been able to sip Water most of the day. The pressure eased since this morning as well. About 10 minutes ago I got hiccups. Now I don't feel the pressure anymore, AND I can feel the water getting through the constriction. Anyone else have that? How funny! I've felt food get through the "funnel" all along and have thought it cool and my way of keeping track of how much to eat, but this is really the coolest (and weirdest).