Kat817

I missed this last night---I wondered about you throughout the day yesterday. What a relief for you to know that everything inside is as it should be. Take some time to heal, then you can decide on the next step. Glad you are ok!!!! Kat

Sissy---maybe that's what I needed to do---try to GAIN weight---trying to lose it sure never worked for me before!!! I'm not questioning your situation at all---I wish I had pursued getting the band before the weight had gotten so out of hand. I think you are very wise taking control now!!! I just had to laugh, that trying to gain was the ONE diet thing I hadn't tried!!! Good Luck to you!!! Kat

I had an easy surgery, and an easy recovery....very little pain. I had minimal gas pain---nothing to even take Tylenol for. I have not given up any foods, except yeasty donuts---I eat all things in moderation. I was well prepared for possibly having some of these problems---I had the gas X, and heating pad, all my foods were ready. The one item I wish I had prior to surgery and the following, liquid in=liquid out issues---was TUCKS. Little moist wipes, that help the sore hiney when the diarrhea hits non stop for that week or so! The other thing I wish I had been told, or warned about concerns my flying to and from surgery. I wish I had been told to pack light!!! You have to lug that suitcase---post surgery as well!!! And also to wear slip on shoes!!! I was able to put them on just fine in the hospital room, but after going through security, and trying to bend with the seats in the airport to retie my shoes wasn't fun! Oh yeah---I wish someone had stressed the importance of clear, unobstructed before pictures, and detailed precise measurements. Because when you hit a plateau (and we all do!), you still lose inches, and it helps to KNOW that. I can see my loss in pictures, much clearer than in the mirror! Good Luck in your upcoming surgeries!!! Kat

I wouldn't eat a dry pancake----but with syrup, I can eat them just fine!!! Actually that is not true...I eat ONE just fine---not them, as in plural!!! One is my limit, but I do it occasionally with a side of bacon or sausage. Syrup makes the difference! Kat

Margs---sometimes I can say I WANT to eat more of something--more so in the begining than now---but just cannot do it. I have learned through this, that the first few bites, are the ones you REALLY taste. After that, my taste buds seem "used to" the taste, and I am eating more out of habit than anything. So now I concentrate on the flavor, and texture, and since you must chew longer--I try to enjoy a few bites of everything we are having. It leaves me feeling like I am not being deprived!!! Now I do concentrate on filling up with more solid protein, than say carbs offered at dinner. For instance, we went to dinner the other night, pre banding, I would have ordered the larger steak, and had it with my loaded baked potato, a salad, roll---the whole 9 yards. Now I order the smallest, but best steak they have. The small filet is going to be plenty (more than enough), and it is so buttery tender, it is a pleasure to eat!!! I may take a bite or 2 of my potato---and skip the roll all together. I'll make themost of my meal between my steak, and my salad. With the salad, I used to 'load' my fork. Stab a piece of lettuce, and a slice of cucumber, or a radish, some cheese, maybe a crouton---lots of dressing...basically as much as would fit on the fork and into my mouth. I would chew several times and swallow. Well I can no longer eat that way. Each element of the salad is now enjoyed on it's own!!! I can taste the difference in the butter lettuce from the ice berg---and I know if the radish has any heat to it---because I eat each bite! In the begining, when something tasted really good, I wanted to keep eating more---because it was good! Now, I don't concentrate on being full. I eat, and enjoy my food, and when I realize I have eaten plenty, and am not feeling the hollow like feeling, I quit. I can't call it hunger, because it does not compare to the pre band hunger---but you learn to recognize the different feelings. You relate to your body better, you enjoy the taste of your food. You don't miss the massive Super Size quantities forever! In fact soon, you will be proud of your ability to eat a normal amount, of food you know is nourishing your body, not just harming it! Many of us used food for company, and comfort. It was always there!!! And if it wasn't---by golly there were stores FULL of it! When we were mad, sad, happy, celebrating, or mourning....food was there. And following the pre and post banding, it can and will be again---just in a different context. You look at food differently, and you eat food differently, but you still must have it to survive!!! It is not something you must say a permanent good bye too, as an alcholic does to booze. Back a year, when someone I knew had a family member pass away, I'd bake a cake, or fix a casserole to take. Now I buy deli meat, and cheese, or fruit. It extends to every part of your life. Same as your pants size changes, so does how you look at those fat filled, and sugar filled foods. Most of us had the same fears---it is scary to change---but so worth it!!! Kat

You just did it!!! You just post into the thread, and it "bumps" it back into the newest threads....there is a smiley bump as well!!! But you have to type words as well---the post has to be a certain # of characters. Kat

The best thing I did was to eat until I was not hungry anymore---and then head to the store. There I bought multiple things I could eat. Keeping the high protein low carb thoughts in mind. I bought sf pudding cups, lots of jello to make, cheese sticks, and packages of individually wrapped cheddar, several varieties of the 100 calorie snacks, lunch meat, cream cheese, sausage patties, eggs, mixed nuts, almonds, yogurt--anything I could think of that was "ok". When I come home, I hard boiled several eggs, I cooked up several sausage patties ( I like them cold...as leftovers!!), I prepped some of the veggies I bought. So that when I hit the kitchen with the munchies hot on my tail, I had choices, and none of them were too bad for me. It will get easier as you start the fill process, but it is a gradual adjustment. So the best thing you can do is be prepared---and be ready for the hunger...have something there to eat, and lots of things handy to drink. Don't force yourself to remain hungry, that will just be more likely to lead to a binge later. When I cooked dinner, I tried to keep it simple, say pork chops and a salad. I would cook a few extra chops, so I would have one to eat the next day, either for lunch or because it 3:05 and I was starving!!! The pork chop was better for me than the oreos in the cupboard!! I always have salad on hand---it has been a saviour! If I could go into the kitchen and see 4-5 things I could have, and they were ready for me to grab, and not feel guilty about, I did better. I didn't have any real restriction prior to my first fill either, to the point I slipped back into some bad eating habits, and when I got my first fill, I was not restricted much, but I had to learn to slow down again, and take smaller bites. Then with my 2nd fill a month after the first, I got great restriction, that I have been working with for over 8 months now!!! This will pass, don't beat yourself up---just do what you can to eat healthy. If there is something you truly crave, I was told to take 1-2 bites of it, then finish off with something more in line with what we should be eating. It has worked for me. I might have lost more, if I had eaten right every step of the way, but I haven't. I don't want each day to feel like a punishment. I don't want to be miserable today so I can be thin tomorrow----I would prefer it to take a little longer, and enjoy all my todays on my way to being thin tomorrow. I needed a new lifestyle. And eating all things in moderation is allowing me to have that new lifestyle. This will be easier for you to do with restriction---I promise!!! For now, find somethings to stock up on---and lessen your stress! And when it gets bad---log on, and let us listen!! Kat

Ok that stringy Easter Grass is now where is belongs---in the trash!! I refuse to buy that kind---I buy the paper stuff that my vaccuum can deal with, this was the pink plastic irridescent junk. My DD---or another family group is responsible for this!!! She knew those jelly beans were at the bottom!! We had a wonderful Easter---my DH went above and beyond, and made my day!! The kids had a good time, it was overcast, but barely sprinkled a few rain drops late in the day. It was in the low 70's through the day---so some opted to take their meal outside, which helped the flow of people in here!!! I felt crummy the couple of days leading up to Easter, I am fighting with allergies--and wasn't sleeping well. I am having problems with the drainage from my allergies, it fills my pouch or something, and I end up over full....and awake. I am going to get my allergy meds Rx filled today---and hope it helps! I think I need them even more now!!! My DH filled my house with lillies----Easter, Tiger, Day----all kinds of lillies! It was a special gift from him---Easter was when we really knew this was going to be a life long thing for us! He had a bouquet of huge pink lillies for me then, and has given me them each year. This year, he went crazy!!! I got a plant for each year! But singly the smell is strong, and inviting, this many I think may be making the allergies worse!!! Even though---I went to bed early, and slept wonderfully---I feel almost human today! One thing about feeling yucky---overeating was not an issue. I did think about you guys on your pre ops, and remembered last year!!! I also remembered last year, and that I mailed off the dress I wore last year to a LBT-er, because it no longer fits me. I just know she too will be sending it on, sooner than she thinks!!! Speaking of clothes, Tracy, I will be in touch later this week---I will likely pull my totes out of storage Wed. afternoon. I don't keep the granddaughter then!!! Some things are just easier without her help. Besides, once we go outside, she flips when I make her come back inside! After dinner yesterday, I took 4 of the kids and we gathered a group of others, to total 11 of us, and went for a walk! Didn't get my full time in, but a couple of rounds of horseshoes with my Dad, finished off my exercise for the day. Not to mention running around like a chicken with my head cut off preparing the meal! Tracy---they also rent a drain cleaner by the hour, that shoots fine high pressure water streams, made for cutting roots etc....we have used one a couple of times, our sewer drainage line runs right between 2 huge old maple trees!!! And our home was built in the 50's---so it is old pipes---lots of issues. But we love the house, and where it is---not to mention it is now paid for---so we deal with them! I hope you get your problem fixed. One thing about it---THAT smell does not make you want food!!! Sorry---trying to find a good side in a bad situation is HARD!!! Yesterday my scale said 200.0----this morning the 1 was back, saying 201. I am holding out, hoping to change the ticker to an even 200 or even maybe wishfully thinking a Onederland #!!! Soon I hope! All you recently banded ones sound like you are hanging in there!!! Be sure to follow your Dr.'s guidelines, and not rush the solid food. Let yourselves heal fully. You'll soon the the ones instructing the next crew!! Everyone have a good day---good luck with your liquid diets---will be thinking about you. Going to go light today myself. Too much of that cake yesterday---and I so want that scale to move! TTYL~ Kat

Tracy I am afraid to ask---but did the auger work??? Teach---if you haven't left yet---please know you will be in my thoughts and prayers---it is the new begining you have been prepping for! Uh-oh, I have Easter grass everywhere---bbl! Kat

I was thinking of something along the line of Free2BMe....now thatcha are!!! Kat

Well it is late, and here I am posting!!! I missed telling Betty Happy Bandiversary---so please accept it a bit late!! You have had a great year---I am so proud of you!!! Boo--I had no doubt you could do the challenge you presented yourself with on the time of your run. Molly--you may have to really get involved with his teacher---with my niece they kept trying to shrug it off, and just hold her back a year, they said she would catch up that it was just immaturity. She was not immature, she had several learning issues, and now has begun getting help at learning how to deal with them. She could write sentences in reverse---seriously, you could hold them to a mirror and read them, then the next sentence would be in proper form. She has struggled. I hope you get answers. His Mom not being willing to get him help seems like a form of neglect IMHO. Sounds like you may need to think about seeing a Dr.....GYN. See if they can do something for your irregularity. I dealt with it for years prior to my hysterectomy. Well I hope everyone has a Happy Easter---and manages to stay away from the chocolate bunnies! I will have a house full of people, and a yard full of kids!!! I got my exercise in today prepping the yard. Raking and cleaning in all the areas, I was afraid they might encounter a spider or something while hiding eggs. So my yard is nice and pretty!!! And my hands are not! I have a couple of blisters from all the raking, we have a huge yard! But it is done, and I got my exercise in!!! Way to go Tracy---running!!!! And you now have another one on wheels!!! Time to get yourself a bike, and ride with the kids! Ok, I need to get to bed, so I can be awake tomorrow!! Everyone enjoy your Easter!!! Kat

The thing to remember about those people talking behind your friends back about her surgery, is that they were likely talking behind her back about her weight before. Those kind of people will always find something to talk about, negatively! I am just very thankful to have the group of friends I do, as well as my family, and the rest I don't really concern myself with. I figure, I'll be laughing last---this time the weight is coming off---I am proving that. And thanks to this band it is staying off! Eventually they will find someone else to talk nasty about---probably each other---that's the way that type seems to work! I have not met personally with anyone policing me about what I eat. Tonight was the first time anyone really even talked about it much, or watched me, and that was the restaurants fault! They lost my meal---so everyone else got theirs, and they had to resubmit my order! So they were all pretty much done---I didn't want them waiting and letting theirs get cold. So when I got mine, I was pretty much eating alone. We were out with 2 other couples---everyone knows about my surgery. One of my friends husbands ask me "Do you always eat this slow?" I told him yep, he said he had never noticed it before! Another woman here in town is heading to surgery in June, and I know that she would not have done it without knowing that my friend and I had done it. When it comes to telling people, it is such an individual thing, just do what you are comfortable with. It is your life, and you need to be at ease with whatever you decide. Life with the band can present many a challenge, so there is no sense in inviting more stress!! Good Luck in your upcoming surgery! Kat

Your angel is beautiful Sherry---and it was a beginers project??? I am SO impressed!!! I have a neighbor who has several large stained glass items hanging in her front picture window. It has made me hesitant to put one in mine, that I look like I am trying to keep up with the Jones'---and in this case, I don't even like the Jones'!!! You did a wonderful job!!! Crispy---I think whether or not Tattoo boy is THE ONE or not, you are both learning valuable lessons in learning to communicate what it is you each want and need out of a relationship. It is a good thing, whether he is Mr Right, or merely Mr Right Now! Hope you survive the wedding shower, and all the hoopla---and keep us updated on the vacation you and Sherry have planned---I am so jealous! Patty--glad to hear things are falling into place a bit for you!! Mr. Pat---it will all get better from here!!! Port pain is the biggest issue for most of us recovering. The muscle doesn't usually appreciate the intrusion! It does adjust, and eventually you will never know it is there, until you feel it, or use it for fills!!! Oh and with the problems you are having---with the gas, and the breath---be careful you don't make one worse trying to help the other!!! Those SF breath mints, can cause vicious gas!!! It will pass (sorry pun intended)---you'll just feel like something crawled in your mouth and died for a few days!!! On the bright side, it means IT IS WORKING!!! Welcome to bandland! Deb---had to laugh at you ready to go back to work. I bet they will be glad you're back too!!! Enjoy your trip! Beannie---so what did you find to do on your "day off"? I should have got some of my housework done yesterday, but I am STILL putting it off. I have 23 people coming tomorrow, I need to get it in gear!!! I cleaned out the fridge, loaded the now working DW, and baked a cake---so I AM started!!! I used to call this cake a "better than Sex" cake....but you know...since surgery, and I lost this weight, and I can't eat so much cake anymore, I think we will call it "better than making out" cake!!!! Well since Eileen is cleaning and cooking today too, I won't feel so alone! What is on your menu? Whats your plan for tomorrow Betty? I bet you are cooking something fabulous!!! Mandy--does the Easter bunny hide a basket for Abi, or just eggs? We used to in the early days, make a trail of jelly beans from the beds to the baskets. My DD says they do the same! Tradition! Darcy---good to see you are still around here! Enjoy your cabin time, and hope to see more of you soon! Cindy---where you at? Busy with church I bet. We had several services this week as well. It is nice with the evening services, where Rick can go. Well, I HAVE to get some things done---will check in on y'all later!!! Kat

Morning girlies!!---and the occasional guys! I could not sleep last night---note to self, no more spicy food late at night---I refluxed---YEeeeuuuuccchhhh!!!! Terri---Wooo Hooo the weight loss has begun. Girl get ready to change that ticker on a steady basis---it is gonna be a regular job for you now!!! You can also find all the syrups at DaVinci's web site, and they offer sales, have a recipe section, and do some shipping specials. They ship fast---and I have never had a break! www.davincigourmet.com . I bought a really cool looking wine rack that sits in the wasted space deep corner of my kitchen counter, and it is filled with Syrup bottles!!! I also order from Torani---I compare the prices--and buy accordingly to the sales! Sara---I do believe if you ever make a USA trip, you have lots of new USA family to visit!!! Where I am, there are no fabulous shopping malls (dangit) but we have amazing Indian Ruins, and are not to far south of some of the 14, 000 foot mountain passes---awesome ski resorts! And we are just north of true cactus filled, deserts! And the Kat817 is FREE!!!! If shopping malls are on your list, check out the website to mall of America, in Minnisota I think it is. Holy smoke, amusement parks, motels---all in a mall!!! I have a t shirt that my brother got me that says "Once you've seen a shopping center--you've seen a mall" (you've seen them all). A shopper he isn't!! Teachlady---guess what---this is a dream that is going to come TRUE! Well I need to go get some cleaning and cooking done, I have 23 people coming tomorrow---and I am grumpy about it! Kat

Me too---any time. I made the mistake of eating too late tonight---we went out with friends, and if I lay down flat too soon, I will end up with acid reflux, so drinking some tea---pushing the food on through. But I think I am safe now, so going off to bed! Talk to you soon! Kat

Ahhh then you are old hat at all the Granny fun!!! Me too! Well if you need someone to talk to when the nerves hit, give me a holler. If you want I can PM you my #. One of my main goals, of losing this weight is my grandkids. If I lose it now, my younger grandbabies, will never remember me as a fat Granny!!! Now if my 2 year old granddaughter, would quit poking my belly fat and calling it a "bubble" I'd be ok!!! Kat

Jo---is this going to be your first grandchild? They are such fun!!! We have Granddaughters 6,5,&2-and Grandsons 7 & 1. And 1 daughter who has been married now almost 2 years, and they have not started yet. Do they know what your DIL is having? How exciting!!! And the baby will be small enough, you will have no problem lifting and holding, and being the Grandma!!! Unless I misunderstood (which it wouldn't be the first time!!!) what Tracy mentioned about the blender thing she bought, I thought she said it was the kind you stick down in the glass, and blend---the stick, hand held mixer kind. I might have missed another post where she bought the other kind, on the idea of the Magic Bullet. We have a friend who owns a restaurant, and she ordered us a bar blender. They are made to blend iced drinks---it is not real modern, nor fancy, but it goes forever, and chops anything!!! I used to use it, then pour it through one of the fine wire type of strainers, seldom caught anything---it pulverized it! So any last minute jitters before your surgery??? Kat

When you have dealt with your DH's radiation, it makes us realize something like this slip, really is minor in many ways. I hope your surgery goes smoothly, and you get your VG band, so you can be comfortable with it. Prayers and good thoughts being sent your way! Keep us posted as soon as you can, we will all be thinking of you Monday. Kat

I a not personally an Idol fan, but I keep thinking, what if my kid or my niece/nephew were voted off just so someone without talent can stay on as a joke---it is sad for the ones who made it so far on real talent. I would have been one of the "joke" horrible ones they showed!!! Kat

Deb---are you going to have a fridge available to store your meal in? Or will you have to rely on the cafeteria? Kat

Molly, you sound like me---we don't "fall off the bandwagon"....we dive off head first!!!! Good thing we have this band as a life preserver! Kat

Hi Hope4Life, welcome to LBT! You found the right place to ask questions, and get some answers!!! I have not been hungry in almost 9 months! NOT hungry! I occasionally will feel a little twinge of something like I am empty---but that gut wrenching hunger---is gone! During the liquid stages following surgery, there was hunger. BUT I was losing weight so fast, it made it seem successful! Helped me get through that stage! Then when I got my first fill, at 8 weeks after surgery, I began to get restriction, the first just helping, but not eliminating the hunger, the second got rid of it!!! How I feel now, a year later---is normal. I don't think about food any more than the woman next door. I no longer plan my dinner as I eat my lunch. I no longer wonder if a meal I order is going to be enough when we go out. I eat an average of say a cup of food at each meal, and have a couple of snacks through the day. I could probably lose better if I dieted...but I don't. I eat anything, just in smaller quantities. I have PB'd 2 times in the year. Once I tried to eat a glazed donut---didn't work. I slimed, and since I wasn't "experienced" yet, I tried to swallow the excess saliva---and made myself get sick---or PB. I do not eat glazed donuts! The only food so far I have totally boycotted!!! The second time, it was popcorn chicken. I was shopping with my granddaughter, and bought her some popcorn chicken, and some flashback hit me, I grabbed a piece popped it in my mouth chewed, maybe once or twice, and swallowed! As it slid down it hit me what I did!!! It stuck---and I ended up sliming and PB'ing it up. I did not give up popcorn chicken, in fact had it today---but chewed it well! I had very little post op gas, but I walked like crazy following surgery, and it helped with what I did have. There has been very little issue or problem with my band, I love it. I am down almost 90 pounds in the last year. I have been on a plateau for a couple of months now. I might see about another fill, I may just wait it out. I am eating and living a whole new life, and not regaining any weight!!! I cannot say how "worth it" this band has been to me---it gave me my life back! Good Luck on your research---this is an awesome site, enjoy it! Kat

A lot of people do go to Mexico, the cost being one of the biggest factors, but also experience. I was hesitant at first, but a friend who had gone before me, brought back pictures, of her motel, and hospital, and was so positive, I began looking into it seriously. Then my experience was the same, the hospital was meticulous---the staff pleasant, and vry attentive, I felt in competant hands the entire time. In my case the area I live is pretty rural---in fact there are no band Dr.s in my state (or weren't when I had it done). So the closest surgeon to do my fills/adjustments is a 5-6 hour drive away---making it a 12 hour round trip. So I even met with my former oncologist, and made arrangements with his office, just in case I need an emergency unfill or something---since they are quite used to accessing ports. It has worked out fine---it was a good decision for me. It would have been nice if there were a local surgeon doing them, that I could see without the long trip---but it wasn't an option. No matter how or where I did it, it was going to involve traveling. So I went with the experience and the lesser cost. Don't regret a bit of it! Do lots of research, both on Dr.'s and facilities---find out how many bands they have placed, what their stats are. Ask if they can mail you information---many refuse! If they refused to put it in writing, I refused to trust them!!! Just do lots of research, you will go into the banding better informed, and prepared. If I can help with any questions, don't hesitate to ask! Kat

Many of us share the feeling of shock when something like that happens. Mine was many years back walking through the mall, I thought to myself, 'wow that woman sure is built wierdly'----imagine my surprise, when I realized it was a mirror on a column---and it was myself I saw at a distance. I have dressed, and walked differently every day since. I wish the band had been available back then!!! Good Luck in your effort to lose down prior to surgery---you are young you will bounce back into health quickly---I commend you for taking control NOW!!! Kat

My surgeon/hospital sent me home with an incentive spirometer to use to make sure I was fully inflating my lungs following surgery. It is a little plastic device, with a mouthpiece that you inhale, in to raise a disc. The idea is to inhale at a steady pace, keeping the risk of pneumonia down. When my DH had MAJOR surgery he would start running a low fever, then he would do some deep breathing, and his fever would drop back to normal. The respiratory therapist, said that is perfectly normal, and when we ignore that, and refuse to breath deep because it hurts, is when trouble starts. So Sara---Terri is right---breath as deep as you can 5-10 times every couple of hours, you will be surprised how fast it becomes easier! Welcome Phil, and congrats on the upcoming surgery date!!! Kat