riley4183

Hey all, happy Monday! Just on for a sec to say hey - this sort of thing @ work gets me in trouble nowadays. Have been doing the Kaiser Bodywatch trial for almost 3 weeks now and have lost less than 5 lbs despite a heavy amount of daily excercise and tracking EVERYTHING I eat. It's SO SLOW . . . . maybe I need to go in for a fill again, it has been 10 months since my last one . . . but I have gained, not lost in that time and I think I need to at least be back down to where I was @ my last fill or he won't do it. Head hunger, darn it!! And being in love Slowly moving furniture to Chris's now, stay there about half the time. Still have not gotten my grown boys out of my condo! Do not know WHAT my mortgage payment is going to go up to in January, so still don't know if I should be paying it so I can keep it or letting it go so I have $ to pay the other bills that are WAY overdue. One thing about the band: I can't stress eat! Even watching a ball game where I'm all excited (go Giants!!!) the food won't go down, so it's all good even when I'm stressed about the house, at least I can't eat my way through it! Pay hunny so sorry to hear that news - I sent you a PM! Tina, Reggie, Pammist, Candra, all my girls, when r we walking in Vallejo??

Good morning my peeps! Just wanted to say hi, I'm in love :biggrin:, and I should be starting my Kaiser Bodybugg program any day now!:thumbup:

Hi Nicolie! I miss you. How's my little Auds?? Not so little now, I'm sure! I am mourning the loss of my prior support groups all around, this one included! I am a culprit of this. We MUST get going again ladies, WE NEED EACH OTHER! I know that our new lives are busy, but it's important! When's the next Vallejo walk? Not September 11, but another Sat I'm THERE

Oh Pammie, I so sorry! A similar thing happened here about 5 years ago, I know how awful it is. I will pray for your friend and for you. Do you have an EAP at work so you can get some counseling?

Oh noooooooo not the band! I love my band. Just want the gallbladder out!!

Yowza, it's really been 2 days since anyone posted?? What's up, peeps? Has the site been down or sumpthin?? I miss you guyz! I am still frustrated by this no-fat diet! I'm just plain hungry all the time without fat ,and very bloaty from the carbs. I have managed to prevent another severe gallstone attack, but this way of eating is for the birds! One simply cannot eat for the band with no fat and no wheat - egg whites as my only Protein is getting really REALLY old! But I can only eat a single 4-oz serving of fish or chicken a day, and NO oils, so I can't eat what I am supposed to for the band, so I can't use my band and just gain gain gain! I have an appointment with the nutritionist here in SR in another couple of weeks, and HOPEfully that will help. Still waiting to see my regular doc re: getting this sucker outta me!! Keep me in your thoughts Speaking of thoughts, let's pause a moment and address our "ugly thoughts" - I know you have 'em? (Biblical warning! if Christianity offends you read no further :-)) When I read my P31 today I immediately thought I should post it here, it is talking about our "beauty wounds" from what people have told us - or what we have told ourselves - for all of our lives: The Bible tells us words are powerful, but so are our thoughts. We often give too much value to the destructive dialogue that runs in our head from past wounds. We listen to the hurtful thoughts that play over and over like a broken record. The moment these thoughts pop up, we need to put an end to them by taking them captive. We need to immediately replace the wounded thinking with something more powerful and loving. One thing that has helped me is to have scripture verses ready in my mind to shut down those damaging head games. For instance, when a critical thought about my beauty or my weight comes into my mind, I try to realize it and immediately say, "The king is enthralled by [my] beauty" (Psalm 45:11,NIV). I want to encourage you to not allow your heart to dwell on ugly thoughts. God is a big God and He's crazy about you. You are a treasure to Him. He did not make a mistake when He created you! I pray you will believe and stand on that truth my friend. For if I know one thing for sure, it is that Jesus came to heal the brokenhearted and bind up every one of our wounds, including our beauty wounds. Have a happy, healthy, blessed day my friends!!

K all, here is my latest - I officially have a complication! The most common one - it's my gallbladder. I have had issues with nasea bloating and some pain, but intermittent. Since I lost the weight. Well Monday night I had a full-blown, all-out, MUCH worse that labor gallstone attack!! OMG, I have never been in such pain in my life. I could not sit, lie down, walk (well I tried, but the pain would drop me), crawl, or get comfortable in any position. I could not breathe in OR out. It was excrutiating, and it last for 4 hours!!! Ay caramba, I never ever want that again! So now I'm waiting for my ultrasound to see how bad the stones are. I may or may not need surgery; if I have another attack then I do for sure but for now I am on SUPER low fat diet which is insane - 25 a day, no more than 5 at a time!!! WTF? Thats almost impossible! So I have to eat carbs - plain rice, plain barley, nonfat dairy (I cant eat wheat) fruits and plain vegies. one meat substitute a day, and no fats! Well you'd think I'd lose, but in the 3 days I have been on this diet I have GAINED 5 lbs!! Part of that may be from the gallbladder I dont know. I am SO frustrated! Also they want me to eat 5 times a day, not 3 times . . . .aarrgghhh!!! Anyone else have gallbladder disease post-loss?

Good Monday morning my peeps ~ Went to the orientation for the Kaiser bobybugg clinical trial, ther are like 100 patients who want to participate and they are taking only 25 (!). In the session that I went to, after trying REALLY hard to weed people out ("if you are going out of town at all during this trial, don't sign up", etc), every single person was still very interested in being a part of it. We even each had to write something about why we should be picked to participate - ugh, such competition! I can only hope that some don't meet their criteria! I'll know if I'm in by the end of the week - wish me luck! :wub: Scale's not budging. BIG time financial stress; I am just starting to accept that I'm going to lose my house . . . . grateful that my kids are grown and I managed to keep a roof over their heads for all those years without a single dime from their father. Still . . . losing my home means losing all the financial independence that I worked so, SO hard for, for so many years! I know I'm not alone - it's just uber-stressful. It also means I have to move in with Chris and that is bringing its own set of stressors. I think I'll call my EAP today and see about some more counseling. Too bad I'm so overwhelmed at work right now, it's a bad time to take off even a couple of hours for an appointment. Ah well, when it rains it pours! My Christian friends - please pray for me to be more open to God's guidance in all of these matters . . I am SUCH a control freak! Thanks

Sherri you poor, poor thing! That sounds terrible - something's amiss. Stay in touch with Liz, hopefully she'll have some ideas for you. The case managers know more than the docs about what's worked for other people. I do still get naseous occasionally, but not to the extent that you describe. My naseau is related to hormones, and yours could be too - does it feel like morning sickness? Estrogen is stored in fat, and when your body starts losing fat rapidly those hormones are circulating around your bloodstream like crazy. For me, progresterone (in the form of a Mirena implant) has taken care of the bulk of the problem, along with my horrid bleeding problems (sorry John!) If any of this sounds like it could be spot-on, call your ob-gyn nurse practitioner! As we all know, hormones also affect your emotional health. Add that to the other emotional changes we experience losing our best friend and coping mechanism (food), and - WHAMMO! There is not a single peep that I know that didn't have some kind of depression after surgery, different situations at different times but we all went though it. If you've been treated for depression before, see if you can get a refill to help you through this. It's not worth feeling crappy!

OK I just logged all that food: Cals 1266 Carbs 68 gross; 43 net fiber 25 protein 97 fat 73 (!) Vitamin A,C, calcium all good. Bottom line: WAY too much fat and more than adequate protein; meaning, I could totally do without the nut snack!!

Monique, hey girl! I would love to get together and walk. I am tied up the weekends of August 14th and September 11th, but other than that, woo-hoo! Let's plan another Vallejo walk SOOOOOOON! Ash - you're HOT!! sizzzzzle . . . . . keep that awesome motivation up! Tina r u kidding me, I got my veggie ideas from you! LOL. That Special K loaf is to die for!! My favorites that work good with the band = lentils with morningstar sausage patties (cut up and cooked right in!); and, boiled edamame with trader joe's rustico sauce and low-fat cheese. Great baked, but usually I'll just nuke it. And I know you're sick of eggs, but I (still) eat egg whites or egg beaters with canned green chilis and low fat cheese almost every day - I just nuke it in a coffee mug right here in the office!! Today for breakfast I have fresh organic raspberries & blackberries, followed by egg whites & lowfat sharp chedder. Lunch is a HUGE cucumber & tomato salad with reduced-fat mozzarella, olive oil and balsalmic vinegar, and fresh garden veggies (green beans and carrotts that a co-worker brought in). Almonds & pistachios for snack (snacking is bad! Being honest). Chris has been making me some great fish for dinner (wild salmon, whatever - his new house is < 1 block from Whole Foods so everything is fresh & GOOD) but he's dogsitting @ his parents' house tonight so I have NO idea what dinner is going to be! Probably some leftover cucumber & tomato salad, and some tuna with mayo (YES I LOVE REAL MAYO, sorry Reggie!) and NSA pickle relish. I haven't logged all that food yet, but I suspect I will be well over in protein for the day and good on carbs and fiber (berries really pack in the fiber), but well over in fat (cheese, olive oil, nuts & mayo). Note that this is a "good" day, as opposed to a "typical" day :cursing: It's hard freakin' work, every day! Now I need to get my exercise on . . . . .

Oh and Tina I get the no meat stuff! I didnt eat it for a year and it was really hard to get the protein without a bunch of carbs- and I can't eat wheat, so seitan was totally out! Robin turned me on to those Quorn products, which I still eat - they are a fungus like mushrooms, vegan, great stuff but it gets really boring! I went back to fish when my system started revolting against soy :-( and I get way more than I need to now that I'm eating fish AND eggs AND cheese AND lentils. I don't eat starch carbs but I still get plenty of carbs (probably 40 grams gross) from fruits, beans, lentils, vegies. THANK GOD my band won't let me eat bread, I am ALMOST done missing it a year and a half out of surgery!!

I would not be able to sustain 500 calories day except maybe for 2 days after a fill . . .I think we can do it for a little while after surgery, but definately not a year out! How much I can eat SO depends on what it is, time of day, TOM and so on. I can hardly eat anything in the early AM - mostly I eat fruit, I can do egg beaters around 10 or 11 but not before. So that's either a late breakfast or it's kind of snacking! At lunch I can eat 1/4 cup of protein (tuna, hard boiled egg, etc) but I could easily eat 2 cups of salad with dressing - can you say slider?? So you are right Tina, I eat the salad first and fill up the bottom stomach, then eat my protein to fill the pouch - backwards from what Robin would have me do, but otherwise I get so hungry so soon!! My problem time of day is 3, I NEED something cause my brain is dead to the world! I have recently found though that if I go see my honey for a late lunch - he makes me something with protein and salad, no starch - and get back to work at 2, I am fine through my 3 o'clock hour - it doesn't hit until 5, and by then its time to go home!

Good morning peeps! I am 100% happy with my band. It was, and is, the perfect solution for me. BUT. Tina is right; the food addiction is very very real and that's where the real work is. NO surgery cures the addiction. Call it what you want - I call it "head work" - it's where our stuggles always have been, that's how we got obese to begin with, and doing the work is the only way we're going to overcome it. The band - or RNY, or the Sleeve - are only tools. I know we hear that and hear that, but believe it! Nothing is more true. We also have dieting addictions - I see a LOT of this, in the Kaiser classes and even on this board. We are all expert dieters; we have been doing it for _(fill in the blank)_ years and we're good at it. "I know what works for me!" we all say. Well guess what, it DOESNT work for you or you would not be on this board! Kaiser has a program that WORKS. It is not broken. It does not need to be "fixed." Follow the program. Unless you are working with a doctor or nutritionist, don't "modify" it to fit what you want to do! The most valuable thing I ever heard about this program was, "forget everything you know about dieting." I heard that at orientation, and it is absolutely true. THAT SAID, we ARE all different when it comes to post-surgery things that work and things that don't. Chicken works for some and not others; I can eat salad and Reggie can't, etc. We all have to learn how to "work" our bands, and re-learn after we get a fill or unfill. My point is this: if you stall out, go back to the program 100%. Drink your water. No sliders. No snacking. 1200 calories. Excercise. It WILL work, promise My problem is motivation! Especially to exercise :ohmy: But guess what? Kaiser just called me to take part in a study they are doing, where I have to wear the bodybugg (the same one they use on Biggest Loser) 24/7 for 3 months solid, and enter ALL of my food into this little black box they are installing in my condo. My data is transmitted wirelessly to a doctor, a nutritionist and a counselor who give me feedback DAILY! OMG, talk about big brother! It is 3 months of 100% accountability, all of the time, and I AM DOING IT! I have not lost for 7 months but I am going to now!! If anyone else is a patient at the Santa Rosa Kaiser, are at least 1 year out from surgery (any kind) and have stabilized (no loss for 6 months), OR have not had surgery, and are interested in participating, there is an orientation meeting this Saturday in the MOB East building, room E3, at 9:30 a.m. They want folks with at least 20 - 30 lbs to lose.

Hey peeps, happy Monday! Way too much to read; markin' my spot as 'yall say My 30 year high school class reunion is this Saturday in Walnut Creek!! OMG I'm old, but you know what?? I'm not embarassed! I think I look just fine, thanks. I would have liked to drop 20 lbs, but hey . . oh my gosh, do you know how normal that is to be in the "I want to lose 20 lbs" group of women? Life is good my friends ~ I'm in love which does NOT help with weight loss - but helps my heart :biggrin:

I was totally ready to go back to work at 1 week, although my first day back I was tired and only made it through a half-day before going home. Surgery on a Monday, back to work the next Monday. BUT. I don't lift anything at work and my commute is really short (driving wasn't fun!). Also, I told. I imagine it would be really difficult to go back to work with your little 2-oz cuppies of full liquids and not have anyone notice, LOL! For those who don't want to tell, I suggest the hernia story - which half the time is going to turn out to be true anyways! Happy Monday all my peeps!

I had Dr. Im assisting Dr. Baggs; some of the other girls from my era did too :-) Good morning my peeps! Off to a lovely staff meeting . . .

Morning all; I'm going in to talk to another kaiser class this week as their sample band patient - any inspiring thoughts? John your post made me smile HIP HIP HORAY 3 CHEERS FOR US LOSERS!! :ohmy:

Tamra, pork goes down just fine for me - but then, I dip it in drawn BUTTER!! LOL. Otherwise it is too dry.

Ms. Chrissy, I can eat only 1/4 cup of dense protein, but 1-2 cups of salad stuff - just depends on what it is! I am well over a year out from surgery and have had no fill for 6 months, and can still only eat 1/4 cup IF I am doing the right thing. And I know when to stop now, so will only PB now(PB stands for productive burp for those who haven't yet had the pleasure, LOL) when I forget and try to take a drink while my pouch is still full - it backs right up into my esophogus and out it come again in about 10 seconds! The problem with following the 1/4 cup dense protein plan - for me - I that I am hungry again an hour later when I do it, so I tend to eat me some salad vegies first (fill the "lower" stomach) then eat my dense protein to fill the "upper" stomach, and then I'm good. If I remember not to drink for AT LEAST an hour, and if I don't snack! Tina is SO right - snacking is the thing that will get every one of use, every time. OK I really do have to go do some work, LOL! When is our Vallejo waterfront walk??

Good morning my peeps! omg Pat i did not even recognize you in your avatar pic! WOW what a difference!! You too Pammie! And Tina! OMG I need to get a new pic up! Exercising again, following the rules again, and losing again. What can I say . . . Happy Monday all :-)

Hey girlfriend! Congrats! :bored: I think I'm the only bandster that lost as fast as a RNY, actually faster than about 1/2 of my RNY friends. I lost 100 lbs. in about 9 months. BUT! Then my weight loss slammed to a screaming halt 20 lbs from my goal, than was like 7 months agao and I haven't lost a thing since!! Have gained a bit back in fact, but fortunately when I do, my band tightens up and I can lose it again fairly easily. So the band was a perfect tool for me, but I'm pretty much an exception. I can say FOR SURE that the only way to experience rapid weight loss with ANY of the surgeries is to FOLLOW THE RULES, including but not limited to RESTRICTING YOUR CARBS! That's my downfall . . . . not yelling at 'yall, just reminding myself. I need to keep to my "Bandkins" (which is Atkins for the Band) and I'll lose again I read some posts every day, certainly not all of them - chatty Cathys! No more internet at home, so can only do it at work and they are cracking down around here so you won't see me post often, but I haven't left! I'm here!!

Pay, YAY!!!!! We missed you bunches! How about Saturday June 26th for our Vallejo outing? Meet at 10:30 @ the waterfront? Who's in???

Morning all, hey Monique YAY! on the 8's! It's a magical number, isn't it? I was ALMOST there, now I'm back to 12's . . . . I wanted to stabalize at a 10 rather than a 12, that way I could fit in 8's after the tummy tuck. 12 feels so "big" to me now! I so have to get back to my excercise. But typing about it isn't getting it done! I am so down for another walk & lunch in Vallejo . . . . but not on the 19th, that's NASCAR!! woo-hoo I'm camping out for 5 days at Infineon again this year, any other NASCAR fans on this board? Last year I was down 80 lbs, single and crazy (!) this year down 100, no longer single but still hecka crazy!! I can't wait. My band hates camping though, I get too dehydrated and that makes me too tight. Tina I'm all about the .25 fills, they always think .50 but I'm too scared! I don't want or need ANY fill right now, have not had one since December. He thought I would need one more around now but I didn't continue to lose, I gained some back. Band is working, I am not! Work is SO STRESSFUL right now, as I'm sure you can imagine. People all around me will be unemployed in 2 weeks, I may or may not be employed in December. At least I managed to raise all of my kids before the bottom fell out of my financial world . . . well have a good Tuesday everyone, let's put that walk together!!

Welcome Cole, and hello to all of my other peeps! Tamra dear, I have "social" eating issues too. Call it what you want - a sense of entitlement, wanting to join in, attempting to appear "normal" - whatever - I'm going to keep on joining in on the trips to starbucks and lunch too! WE MUST TREAT OURSELVES WELL. But you are not treating yourself well if you're not in it for your health in the long run. Fortunately, we can have both! We can take ourselves out, join in the fun, never miss a party, and still be the healthiest (and smallest!) that we have been since 2nd grade. It's all about making smart choices. Ignore the teasing about the decaf. Here are safe Starbucks bets with 0 cals and only 1 carb: Decaf coffee (black) (BORING! but good on a cold afternoon) Americano with SF cinnamon dolce (or SF vanilla, etc) (my AM beverage of choice) Unsweetened Passion Ice Tea (add Splenda) Venti Shaken Passion Iced Tea with SF vanilla (I just discovered this one, and MAN! What a treat! I let my friends try it and they want it instead of their gooey frap! You can also have them whip it up as a blended drink) Stay away from the skinny latte. While it's better than the full version, it has a ton of carbs (milk has lots of natural sugars that increase appetite). As far as the sushi goes, fish is actually an excellent band food (NOT the rice!!) Order sashima (sp?) but expect to only be able to eat 1/4 cup of it - ask for them to bring a box with your lunch. That's exactly how it's supposed to work, isn't it great? Honestly, no one ever even notices that I hardly touch my food and take most of it home. Except my boyfriend :-) who feels sorry for me cause his plate is heaping and I just have a scant tablespoon of everything on mine. But I know from too much experience how bad it'll hurt if I eat 1/2 bite too much, or if I try to eat bread at all, so I just dont even desire it anymore. I need to get back to my exercise, I feel like such a sloth . . . GOOD MORNING EVERYONE!