Kat817

Ok Easter Bunny--------bring it on!!!! House is done, laundry is done, baking is done, everything that can be prepped ahead, has been. Yesterday was one of my oldest friends birthdays. She recently moved, to be closer to her fiance, (she is remarrying after being divorced for 25 years). She gave it to me when she was in town in October, and I talked to her twice since then on her cell phone. When she moved, the cell changed, and I had lost the #. I ALWAYS call her on her birthday, so when I didn't call, she called me to see if I was ok!! Was so glad she did. She had Gastric bypass about the same time I was banded---she has lost 112 pounds, and looks great, she is in a size 16....she is hoping to be in a 14 for the wedding. They are getting married on some family property of her husbands up in Colorado. I am ticked off at my DD!! She was supposed to come and get Kinsey's dress----and has yet to show up. She called, but now is not answering.....if I blow her off and go to bed, she doesn't suffer, Kinsey does, it is her dress. She left it here, because Kinsey was crying to wear it, and she didn't want to listen to it, so she left, I hung it in the closet, and by morning Kinsey had forgotten to ask for it. Now she isn't going to have it---or I am going to get woke up early in order for her to have it. Some days my DD definitely stands for something besides Dear or Darling......grrrrrrrr. I left a message---she will have no doubt her Mama ain't happy! I think next year I will be like my MIL a grouchy old lady and if any of these kids want a holiday dinner they can doggone do it themselves!! Feelin' major grumpy with them!!! Abbey informs us that as usual, we are getting to come AFTER Rhetts family, so even though she agreed to bring food, she isn't going to be here until 2 hours AFTER we planned dinner, I told her skip it I would cook hers too! I swear.....wonder who raised these inconsiderate brats??? Abbey has not been to our house for anything since she married. It is always his family first. Look up Mama's boy-----and there is a big ol' picture of my Son in Law!!! They go there first because they always have something for him to eat, we don't. His Mom cooks him cheeseburgers to have while they all have dinner.....I don't! I did offer to toss a cheese pizza in the oven, and I really wouldn't have been happy about it!! LOL I feel like I am on a roll!!! GROUCH!!!!! Rick is sick---running a fever, so he is in bed. I really wanted him to clean off the back patio, he has all his junk out there from building the trailers....but he didn't get it done, so maybe in the morning, and if not....they get to stay in the house!!! Thank you for my ecard Judy--it was tooo cute! I saved it so I can play it for the kids. I am watching my mailbox.....Jane and I had heck exchanging things at Christmas!!! Speaking of Jane, glad you are feeling better, hope the pizza was yummy!!! We called out to the A&W and picked up dinner, I refused to cook! LOL Well---I am gonna go kick back, and read my new People I think---relax a few and head to bed!! I hope all of you find that the Easter Bunny visited overnight and left you lots and lots of calorie free candy!!! My Easter weakness is Reeces Eggs-----I ate 2. That was all I bought!!! I had a bag of Cadbury Eggs, but sent them home with the girls! Jelly beans are not my favorite....and Peeps do nothing for me.....so avoiding the candy this time of year is not a big deal. The only jelly bean type of candy I like is Hot Tamales...mmmmm LOL--enough candy talk!!! Everyone have a GREAT Easter.....as we all celebrate new life! Hugs~~ Kat

I too think you can tweak your diet to get to a maintenance weight. I do understand the caffeine from the Mt. Dew for migraines---and I get that, that is not your normal intake! Getting a clear picture of what you are eating is an excellent plan. It might just be that you can make a couple of simple, yet tasty changes, and level out the loss. Switching back to regular milk vs. low fat. Adding back some of the starchier vegetables to dinner once a week or so....have vegetable lasagna with no meat for dinner one night, lower the Protein in the meal and up the carbs. Not all day, every day, just adjust a bit here and there to re balance your diet. Do you feel in control of your diet and exercise program? There are bandsters (Chickie comes to mind first) that made it to goal, and had complete unfills, and maintain--with what they have been able to learn with the band as a teacher. Let us know how you do watching the diet....sometimes we become so used to cutting calories, that we continue it---and in your case it sounds like you might want to look at where you are cutting them, and add a few back in, in a healthy manner. Congratulations on reaching goal and beyond----good job! Kat

Most of the time it seems your body makes that choice, more than you conciously make it. As has been said, if you ate too big of a bite, or ate too fast, and have blocked the banded area....it will depend. On several things. #1 Did you quit eating as soon as it happen? I popped a piece of popcorn chicken in my mouth out shopping one day, chewed a couple times and swallowed, as it worked down my throat, the difference in the way it felt hit me like a ton of bricks! I had slipped into pre band eating mode! I knew it was not chewed well enough so I ate nothing else--not another bite! Let it sit for awhile and began drinking.....Wrong thing to do! It come back up---in what we refer to as a PB! liquid seldom helps!!! I have since learned a few tricks, but have no idea when you swallow a piece of chicken whole, if anything would have worked!!! Just experience! #2 If you continued to eat.... until the pain starts, more often than not it sounds like most of the time, people end up PB'ing it. The food backs up to the esophagus, and triggers the gag, and it is all over!!That is why we eat slow and small bites, so you know before it is too late! I have heard of PB's being very sudden and being unable to make it to a restroom, I have never had that experience. I have only had 2 what I would call painful type of PB's. The chicken above and glazed donuts! I still eat chicken, that one was my fault....the donuts---I chewed, but they felt like they grew once I ate them, and I hurt, and slimed, and was generally miserable til they come back up! #3 It depends on what it is you ate. If it is softer food that will be able to be moved once the stomach begins working it---or if it was harder Protein that is harder to break down. #4 As strange as it sounds sometimes it depends on where you are, as to what the outcome will be. If you are at home and can walk and stretch, and burp if needed, and some flap their arms up and down---then sometimes the offending food moves on through. If you are in a restaurant, doing those things might be a tad embarassing!!! Once you learn how your body reacts, some people PB as a simple hiccup, the offending food pops out and it is over, no stress no mess. Others, find them painful, and long lasting. I have had both I would say, the 2 painful ones mentioned, and then several times over the last couple of years, I feel stuck and when I attempt to burp, it brings my chewed food, or at least a bite or 2 ofit, and when I spit it up it is over....no biggie. My surgeon/fill Dr. said something like that is likely less stressful, than continuing to be stuck, but the full force, vomiting like PB is to be avoided! It causes stress on the placement of the band. I think we were all worried about how we would handle the evil side of the band---the PB! But if you are careful, and do not become over tight, they are not usually a problem. They do happen....to almost all of us eventually----but you learn. A lesson learned the hard way is one remembered it seems!!! You will adapt and do fine!!! Kat

Oh man if those are my choices......I think I feel a headache a comin' on!!! LOL Kat

Oh Jane, you poor thing, I hate being sick! Hope you feel better!!! Well, kitchen is clean, cake is baking, gonna peel some taters and put them in a covered pot of water in the cold garage.....then going to prep my ham and stick it back in the fridge.....I know y'all may be surprised by this but I am almost done!! Well, considering my list of to do's when I started! BBL~ Kat

Haydee, are these some colored, some confetti filled both? We used to do the confetti filled when we were in Denver, my SIL there got us started, she is hispanic, and we had a blast!!! Maybe in the next year or so, when my Grandkids get a bit older we will revive the tradition!!! Well.....house is done, except Rick gets to clean the fireplace area--his job...always has been, always will be!! And the kitchen. Bedrooms, bathrooms, living room, dining room, all done, dejunked, decobwebbed! From ceiling fans to floors and everything in between, they are done. Now I will do the kitchen as I work in there getting food prepped. We are eating immediately following church, because Kinsey is going to her Daddy's at 2, and my inlaws are not staying long, they are going to my SIL's after here. MIL is putting on her martyr act, and blaming me for splitting up the family. I even got a phone call from my SIL in Denver teasing me about it!! We get along great, she understands, and that is a big part of the reason she remains living in Denver. She openly admits not wanting to do anything....which is a sucky attitude, but at least she admits it instead of acting like she does it all!! Anyway.....I talked back to my MIL, and told her oh no, it wasn't my idea that my SIL said at Christmas we were just too big to fit in one place any longer....so I just figured this would work easer, we could all get together in the summer when it could be outdoors. She just stayed sad. And I understand her being sad, but she has the biggest house and refuses to host it so give me a freakin' break! But that's ok, I am getting quite used to being the black sheep DIL!!! LOL So what's on everyones menu for tomorrow???? We are having a hodge podge of food!!! I am cooking a ham, Beck is cooking prime rib. Add in all the potatoes, and each of the girls is bringing a veggie....they are working it out between them, so we don't end up with 3 dishes of green beans!!! Ali, is making homemade yeast rolls, I have 2 cakes to bake, and a sugar free one to finish up, and a sugar free pie to do.....Mom is making a relish tray, and a side dish of some sort, and my MIL said she would bring something, she didn't know what. pssssst....she didn't know what because I did not mention what I was doing, the last couple of years, she always does the same thing I do!!! And then makes Rick feel bad if he eats mine---he swears his Mom has Alzheimers....I think she has old age grouchy disease, she is exactly, down to a T just like her mother!!! Granny was grouchy, but we loved her to death, just like MIL!!! OK, I am off to the kitchen to get busy. Took an Advil Cold and Sinus, and feel human again. Will check in later......wish me luck to keep from snacking!! Hope you are feeling better Jane--and I'm with you Haydee, I keep saying I can't get sick today! Try Airbourne-------I have heard good things about it and Zycam both..... Kat

I must confess....I am using y'all...... I don't wanna do my housework!!!!! I have close to 20 people coming to dinner tomorrow, I think I am catching Rick & Kinsey's cold----and I don't want to do anything! Especially, cook, clean and do laundry! LOL Suzanne---they still pile in the back of the truck, and what kills me, is the grandparents are ALWAYS in the back! The kids too....the teens through 40 are in the cab----more sheep around here than goats!! And it isn't the same truck---they get new ones every 6 years now---it just increase it was 5 years. There is rampant discrimination. Going both ways. To stop in Shiprock or some of the other reservation towns, you would have been walked around to seat the other family! As a whole, they are not tippers. I know that is discriminatory just to say, and I hate putting it that way, but it is true none the less. MY DD's both have waited tables, and it is a job--the families are usually very large, so will come in and take up 2 hours and an 8 top table, and not leave a dime. So with that in mind, the discrimination continues, as no one wants to fill their section with needy yet non tipping customers. The other serious issue with border towns of reservations is the purchase of cars---like what Bobster is doing--you don't do here! There is a salesperson with all test drives, unless you know your salesman WELL. Prices reflect that too. The problem is mostly with vehicles and mobile homes. When something is taken onto the reservation, your average Joe Business cannot simply go pick it up in a respossession issue....you have to apply to the Tribal Council (yep sounds TV familiar!!!), for permission to repo something, and it is seldom given. So if you sell them a car, and they drive it to the rez and don't pay, you have to wait until they come to town, and catch them at Walmart or Chilis to repo the car! You cannot make collection calls....they are governed under different standards. The multitudes of DWI's given on the rez are not held against them if they are arrested for one off the rez. But if I were to get arrested on the rez....I am not guaranteed a speedy trial---it is like getting arrested in Mexico, I am at their mercy..... So, there remains lots of animosity, but when like Suzanne said, you take the time to get to know someone, the barriers break down.... I have 2 nephews who are both 1/2 Navajo Indian, and you would be hard pressed to find better kids.....hoping they can with their generation help to change things. Jane so sorry you are sick----feel better soon! Laura--***warning Mom-mode kicking in*** IMHO I would not take the meds until more study had been done on them, or until you were finished having children anyway. If you think weight loss affected your body--just wait til pregnancy and childbirth!! When your body goes through the chemical changes required for pregnancy, you might be surprised--it may help! My oldest DD had maybe 3 zits her entire teenage life, but had horrid pregnancy induced acne! I had never even heard of such! And yet you see all the time women who have never been more beautiful, their skin glows. As soon as Kinsey was born, Manda quit having problems. You have huge increases in hormones in your body, and it might be worth seeing if that alone helps or changes things. I just see you as a person who if something were to happen to your child, blaming yourself---we all do, but why invite something else to worry about? ****done now!**** uh-oh.....I may now be well deserving of being referred to as an old bitty!!! We have a big screen.....50 some inches, Rick loves it! Our surround sound is amazing....and he is increasing it---adding speakers in the ceiling, he found at Radio Shack....lol! My car sound system is Bose, I love it! It will be our next upgrade, but for now we are happy. My niece has these pads under the legs of her sofa and chairs, that vibrate with the sound system, so if a bomb explodes, not only do you hear it through their sound system, you literally feel it--the chairs jar! Too much, might interupt my napping!!! My Grandma (Violet one!) loved black jelly beans----had forgot about that---thanks for the smile!!! Well my laundry is ready to be changed, my phone has rang 4 times while trying to post this, and the house is not cleaning itself....so I am out of here. Not even going to allow myself to check in until I am half done!! LOL Hugs~ Kat

Well, until the weather clears up here.....I can type---which I need LBT for, or snack....otherwise my hands feel lost!!! Nope all THOSE suggestions belong in another thread!!!! Kat

Maybe he was too close to the weight loss with your brother, have him look through the before and afters here on LBT with you----they are VERY inspirational---showing it is not always easy----but it can be done!!! Kat

Would your brother be willing to come over and talk with you both together concerning the surgery? Will DH go to the informational seminar with you? Maybe the Dr. would touch on whatever is worrying him. Last suggestion would be to make a deal with him. Diet hard core for 3 months, then try to maintain the loss for 3 months longer, if you can do it, then keep going, if not, then it is time to discuss banding further. In the meantime, it would be beneficial to mention it to the Dr, so that those 6 months could be credited towards your Weight loss attempts. I have no real experience with this, and mine was a bit trepiditious, but supportive at the same time, he has since been totally on board and thrilled with my results. You also need to keep in mind, if you do decide to go to get banded together, he will likely lose twice as fast as you will!!! Life isn't always fair!!! Good Luck----and welcome to LBT, nice to have you here! Kat

I have heard that story, and also that if a child commits an act considered heinous by the tribal elders, they are banished to the badlands. The bandlands are a section of land in the 4 corners, referred to as the Bisti (Bist-I) Badlands. The land is barren, but has the strangest outcroppings of rocks, and arches, totally foreign when compared to the rest of the dessert area. From there, they have moved around to survive, and live in and among the local bluffs (flat topped mountains). When in High School we would party in the hills, pass the hat around and collect enough money, buy a keg, go out to the middle of nowhere, and build a bonfire, and have a party!! Many people claimed to have seen things, and heard things, and a couple I know swears they saw a man with antlers on his head, and wearing a cape of an animal, with the head resting on his shoulder, staring into the car they were making out in!!! It freaked them out enough, they never went out to party with us again! Personally I have never seen anything. I mean there are ruins all over the place---and finding pottery, and arrowheads, is pretty commonplace. We live in an area with lots of sandstone, and petroglyphs are everywhere, there are entire parks related to the petroglyphs---some of them in the cities! When I was in High School the entire area was in serious unrest due to racial tension. 3 boys from Farmington high school, took 3 Navajo men out in the Glade, and killed them. They were discovered, because they had threaded one of the mans fingers and wore it to school as a necklace! It used to be a common thing for kids to "roll" indians. They would be passed out drunk in the park, or behind the bar in the alley, they would roll em over and take all their cash. You knew if someone said they went rolling over the weekend, they were people to avoid! At the time this was all going on, my Mom was a dispatcher for the Sherrifs Office, so the Sherrif, and the deputies, the jailer---they were all part of my life, I saw them everyday! I stopped in her office every day after school. Well the boys tortured these men, and no one could identify who the men were, because they have no local homes. There are massive amounts of NA's who are alcoholic, so they get their checks, come in to Farmington, cash the checks, buy bottles of cheap booze, and drink and sleep in the parks, until their money finally runs out, then they head home, most catching a ride with someone heading to the rez. It is illegal to sell alcohol on the reservation, yet they have HIGH percentages of alcoholism---6 times the national average. So these men, were not missed, and they had decomposed..... So this man I always referred to as Uncle Bruce who was a deputy, stole one of the bodies, loaded it in his car, and removed the remaining fingers, and soaked them in vegetable oil, to try to get a finger print, so that they could identify him----and it worked! Nowadays they could do it without issue but 30+ years ago----that's how they did it. So anyway, the Indians marched on the town, feeling the boys were not being properly punished! We were coming in to town with my Mom to shop---3 of us girls, and the Main street was teeming with raging Indians! We turned around and went straight home, my Mom was scared to death!!! They were marching because they felt the sentences given were too light. Through the years, the boys all met with strange ends....I cannot remember exactly..... There is a book about this---called the Broken Circle---I think the authors name is Barker. I read it when it first come out, it was VERY bizzarre---I knew the people they talked about in regards to the law enforcement! Through the years the racial tensions go up and down.....never easing in the ways many other racial issues do. Anyway----I have never had a close encounter with a Skin Crawler----and if they exist I don't wanna have one either!!! Sorry for the book and history lesson----just showing I still live in the Wild West!!! Kat

Yep, next thing you know, BBK, you will be featured in one of those "can't hold their alcohol" emails!!!! Has anyone mentioned seeing you snoozing? My former BIL passed out one year at Christmas, and we decorated him.....hung ornaments on him, icicles, put his MIL's curly toed elf slippers on him.....and then we just waited.....and oh yeah---took LOTS of pictures!!!! Kat

STOP!!! DO NOT SET FOOT OUT OF YOUR HOUSE TO DQ---You haven't got my order yet!!! Chocolate extreme please!!! Suzanne---I am going to take a wild guess and am thinking your friends told you about "Skin walkers or Skin Crawlers" of Indian Lore, there are multitudes of takes on the stories, but the common theme is they skulk around up to no good---covered in animal hides. Was that anything like what you were talking about? Farmington is 10 miles from me----if ya ever wanna go fishin' and the 4 corners again! Kat

Well there is the one obviously male dancing banana!!!! LMAO!! Kat

Well I made it back.....I am working on the box Tracy----the PO was open, but they objected to the box----it at one time help ATF, so it is not something they allow to be used to ship in. So I got a box in Walmart today--sausage was in it, think that is dangerous too??? I am exhausted, my head is throbbing.....and my bed wants me to lie down on it for a few minutes......I heard it say so! TTYL~~ Kat

Then my best suggestion for getting the fill and leaving, would be to explain to your Dr. when you go for the fill what is going on, and maybe he could recommend or refer you to someone there should a need arise. I mean for that matter you could be moving there, and need a Dr. permanently...... And sorry about the TOM thing-----I just had no way to know--y'alls posts don't have a pop up tallywhacker anywhere in sight!! No offence intended!!! Since you don't get airsick, and it will be a first fill--I would seriously imagine it would be simple and routine, it usually takes more than a first fill to acheive a lot of restriction, but I still believe asking for a Dr. recommendation might be a good plan. You might find yourself ready for a fill while you are there. Enjoy your trip! And good luck with the fill! Kat

WCFG---it was not the CRUNCH" that made me cringe with the suggestion of using a tootsie roll pop.....it was the way the dang things always cut my tongue! :success1: Is it just me? Do I have particularly caustic saliva???? I HATE tootsie roll pops!!! Yep---I woulda suggested something else to practice on!! To me, the obvious item to practice on ---- is her DH--he talks, the candy, or the banana---they don't so much!!!! :shades_smile: As per your post---I utilized the smileys---to show my humor in the thread....LOL:wink2: Kat

I didn't keep the belief that everyone was the same for as long as you did Terry--but I know exactly what you are saying! I grew up surrounded by people of similar status and belief systems....with happily married parents, and grandparents who loved one another, and us. I can remember on a summer evening on the front porch, Mom brought Dad a bottle of beer, and had poured some in one of those little glasses that cheese spread comes in for herself. That was my life---until I got married. I was young (17!!!) and would have run away if not given permission, the border is 11 miles away!!! I married into a family with serious alcohol issues, and fidelity issues. The first night my husband didn't come home all night, I was in tears convinced he was dead somewhere....the thought he was cheating never entered my mind! It was quite a wake up call!!! I am now much more observant of how people live amongst themselves.... OH and FWIW-----For What It's Worth...... I don't think my Uncle saw his job as depressing...although he dealt with depressed people....hard to describe. He was very well respected, and sought out when there was an elder on the reservation die. He would go in and observe all the old traditions. Including, the fact that if one of the elders actually died in their hogan (a dome shaped-usually-mud and stick built home, with a fire pit right in the middle, piped out the top) he would go with the family, and witness the burning of the home....partake in the meal, usually mutton stew and fried bread, then hold the services. The Navajo people have a huge presence in the armed services, per capita they are in the majority, and they all have massive respect for fellow servicemen. He actually did several of the original "Code Talkers" from WWII's services. And drove countless bodies thousands and thousands of miles for military burial. His wife is my Dads sister, and she is a PITA--she used to love that I was the fattest one in the family, now she and her DD are both bigger than I am, and she will not mention anything EVER about my weight---she always refers to her own at being 220 pounds, which is about 75-100 short---but hey she has to carry it around not me! But my Uncle he is always telling me how good I look, and how proud he is I found a way to do it. Mom and I are always saying--poor him having to put up with my Aunt!!! Sorry your sister had it out with your Mom. I am not trying to defend her---it was a horrible thing to do. But as I have said before, sometimes it is easier to be mad, than to be sad. We want them to want to fight with every breath too....I was FURIOUS with my Mom for allowing my Grandma to sign a DNR. Mom did not have any choice, she didn't want Gma. to hurt anymore, and it was Gma's choice. But I wanted her to beat the cancer again-and live forever, not sign a paper that said they would not keep her living. I said horrid things to my Mom, and I threatened to talk to Gma. myself. Had my Mom in tears....and left her that way! You may be thinking, that I was just a kid, and your sister is not---but I was well into my 30's---not a kid, just a scared granddaughter who could not face the thought of losing her and no one doing anything! I still hate DNR's! I have since apologized to my Mom, and know the pain she had in making the choice to accept Gma's choice. But it was so much easier to hate everyone and everything about it, than allow it to hurt....Does your sister have much of a support system to get through this besides you? Hugs to all of you! Tracy---as soon as it is light, and I can go to the car and get the box, and to the garage and get the tape, and get off my butt and get dressed.....I'll get right on it!! LOL I promise!! Gonna be nice here today too, Kinsey and I are walking to the bank this morning, hoping the fresh air makes my headache ease. TTYL~~ Kat

Lindzie's grandma is so allergic to shellfish, that if they eat it for dinner, they have to shower before going to her house! She come over here once last fall, and Lindzie had been eating chips and salsa, and touched her on the arm, and her arm got finger shaped hives----she said it was because the chips had iodized salt on them! I cannot imagine being that allergic. Is it all nuts Jane? I would be sooooo lost, that is one of my main snack items. Well was before this tooth fiasco. I do not have a bone chip, I have a spur on the socket around where the tooth was. I am like Terry I have options! I can have the gum cut, and the place smoothed...I can have a skin graft put over it to cushion it....or I can try to let it gradually smooth itself. Gee----that's hard! I am not having more surgery on the damn thing! Tracy--Rick brought me home a box--so I will do my best to get the shirts mailed tomorrow! When you see me here, tell me to get off the computer and get with it! Michelle, I knew you were drooling over Judy's new baubles....but when you were ask about it, it just hit me, we have a sliming smiley. So then when I went to the smiley list to find him....I also run across the PB'ing one!!! How fitting for the site!!! Suzanne---I did it! I got all my liquid in today----I just knew you would be so proud of me!!! LOL---I will likely be up all night peeing now!!! Yep Pamela, that is exactly what Manda said Tomas was. I looked at the black and thought Goth, she corrected me. I just know to look at him, he looks very unhappy, and timid....and while as a person my former DIL seems nice enough, she uses people like crazy. He looks like a target for so many things! It used to creep me out that my Uncle was a mortician. But he is very staid, and respectful. He did 4 tours in Vietnam. He has bylines of several pictures in the Time Life books---his last 2 tours his job was as a photographer. He has a trunk full of pictures, and his will is that it be burned when he dies, never opened. He said he cannot ever get the pictures out of his mind, but he can help those that die now, be buried with dignity....something seriously lacking in Vietnam. I also have an Uncle who is a Dr.....so if one can't cure me-----the other takes over!!! Well I am gonna read my mail and call it a night. See ya tomorrow!! Kat

I woulda cried too! And I am like Laura---we go out, and plan on having a drink, and 9 times out of 10, when the waiter comes around---I order ice tea!!! LOL!!! I had too much to drink on NYE----haven't had any since! Not because I had too much---just had no desire. Tracy----I got a box tonight, Rick brought me one home, so will get shirts in the mail tomorrow, if I get my butt in gear! Kat

Pre op diets vary widely...from none at all, to 3 weeks of liquids in preparation for it! Post op diets are much less varied, most differences fall in the length of time involved in each stage. Most of us come home on a clear liquid diet. Water (always!), apple juice, broths---nothing with texture at all. It is recommended that for this stage you find something similar to Zero Carb Isopure, it is a clear liquid Protein drink---think protein kool-aid! It has 40 grams per bottle. They also sell shots of protein---I have never tried them.... I remained on the Clear Liquids for 2 weeks. Something to keep in mind during this stage is that for most of us, liquids in=liquids out. Often diarhea hits---because our body is not used to not having food! When you move on, it eases---it is very normal. The next stage you usually move to is full liquids. Anything that would pour through a straw. Cream Soups, Protein shakes, some pureed foods---thicker liquids. Then you move to mushies. Cottage cheese, yogurt, mashed potatoes---soft foods. Finally then after usually several weeks---a month on average I would guess you move to a full diet. When they place the band, they bring the lower stomach up and stitch it, to hold the band in proper postition. Scar tissue begins forming, and that will be what keeps it in position. When you adhere to the liquid diet, it gives your stomach a chance to heal. When you put food into it that needs digested, the stomach has to knead and squeeze to push the food through---which keeps those adhesions--scar tissue from forming snuggly. If it does not form a snug fit, you will have wiggle room for the band increasing your odds of slippage. Keep in mind, how long it takes your outside stitches to heal, and they are being kept dry, and allowed to air--the stitches inside are in a moist area, and will take longer to heal. Sometimes it seems like the post op diet goes on forever! You go through bandster hell! You have a healthy band, and no fill, so you get very little if any help from it. BUT for the long term, it is well worth following your Dr.'s suggested post op diet. When the hunger or munchies hit, get up and move, go for a walk, or clean the kitchen---anything! In the end it is ALL worth it!!! We survived it, and you will too!!! Welcome to both of you!! Kat

Welcome Brian! I hope your Quest for the band to be a quick and easily accomplished one! I LOVE my band! I have control of my eating back, I no longer feel like I am 67 as opposed to 47! When I was banded I was taking 2 different meds for high blood pressure, one for high blood sugar, and yet another for high cholesterol, I had anti-inflamatories for painful knee joints---it was ridiculous! Since banding, I no longer take a single prescription medication! I have no joint pain, I can run and play with my grandkids, and since they are so young---they do not ever remember me being that fat!!! My 3 yr old granddaughter wants to know who is with her Papa in pictures, she does not believe it is me! I can walk into a room without being self concious. I can sit in any chair, climb any ladder....and even sit on my DH's lap without concern. Soon you will have your own list-----they say that the band is just a tool, and it is, you DO have to use your head, and work with it. But a shovel is just a tool, and think how much easier it makes digging a hole-----you will love the help! Once again---welcome! Kat

1- I have only been able to get down a couple of bites of non-mushy food, is this how its is now or is this just because its a new fill. With my second fill I went for about a week, maybe 10 days where my limit was 3 bites...but it did relax. It did not go away, I am still working with that second fill 18 months later! 2- Whats a typical day like for you with good restriction, what do you eat? Drink? Exercise? I know there are similar threads, but I don't think with a combination of all things.. I have what I consider WONDERFUL restriction, it is not really like a shock collar for me---when I get to the point of hurting, it is toooooo late! The reason I feel so good about my restriction is that is seems to be working more on my hunger than on being tight. I am not starving all the time, so, I don't care to eat much. When I do eat, my portion size is still extremely reduced compared to what I used to eat. It is also a lot more than what many on the site eat. But I feel like what I can do now is get proper nutrition. I can eat enough to feel like my Vitamins and mineral needs are being met---my blood work up and overall health is great, and soooo much improved! I eat pretty much everything. I eat much less of it. And I eat it in different ways than I used to. I concentrate on nutrition in my meals a big majority of the time--I mean I still have things that are not always good for me---but not as often anymore. Where before a large part of my big plate would hold starchy foods, now they are only a bite or 2 max---it mainly consists of Protein, and veggies. But since I DO pay attention most of the time, then when I go out, or have something I really want---I eat it. I do not have problems with food, because as I say I am NOT tightly restricted. I can eat bread, just very little, and very slow....same with Pasta or rice---it is not a food that makes me comfy eating it anymore. Where it used to be THE comfort food---now it causes discomfort enough, I just don't care for it often. Drinks---I drink mostly iced tea---decaf, because my DH cannot have caffeine. But juices, Water, chocolate milk, occasional shake--protein or not. Since banding I have had the occasional Diet Dr. Pepper....but I could probably count them on my fingers. I have had alcoholic drinks---no beer, just have not been brave enough to try---it isn't a biggie to me! I have not found anything I cannot drink. If I do not drink enough water/tea---my weight loss stalls. It is something I push--to keep above 64 ounces a day. Exercise---not as much as I should---or will when summer gets here again! I joined Curves---when I was about 6 months out. I also lift light free weights with DH---and when the weather is nice I walk---and play with my grandkids....I mean play---run, swing, go down the slide....fun stuff! This winter I had to have thyroid surgery, and have slacked in my exercise--but Spring is comin' and I have Spring fever to be outside doing something!!! As for being overfilled. My SIL who is banded, stayed so overfilled she could not get in even enough water and ended up with permanent kidney damage caused by continued dehydration, and she was drinking, but not enough, and not eating. Overfilling can be very dangerous....I would not suggest it for anyone, for any length of time at all. I would prefer it to take a little longer and my band last me....it is my understanding that being too tight is linked to slippage, as well as erosion. Leather---I personally would not worry too much with a first fill, if the Dr. is not super aggressive with fills. If it was not the first I would highly suggest waiting til after the trip---it might still be something to consider. Have you ever been air sick? If so---do NOT get the fill. If it will be close to your TOM, do NOT get the fill. It is not unusual for fills to kick in several days after receiving them---and to be so remote with no pre selected medical help available---I would be very cautious. Fluoro shows how the fill is reacting at that time, it does not help with swelling caused by the fill which is usually the few days following the fill. How long will you be gone? And can you get in to get your fill soon after returning? Are you dealing with serious Bandster Hell? I am of the mind----better safe than sorry...... Kat

Jane, some pharmeceutical companies will make exceptions to that cost! I know I read about it in the paper not long ago. I used to carry one, for unexplained hives----my throat swelled up a couple of times....but they went away as wierdly as they began! Go figure! Have you thought about getting them out of the country? Going to go speak with my goofy husband now that he is off the phone....bb in awhile! Kat