Band_Groupie

We had a great weekend! OK, I gained 5 pounds in TWO days…sigh…not sure how that is even possible, not the best choices, but 5 pounds? I listed what I ate below, but I also drank some wine/beer-plenty, but not in excess. We got to PSU around 4:30pm and picked up DS1 at his dorm. I was SO happy to see him again. You talk to your kids when they're away, but there's something about seeing them that really helps to know they're alright; especially their first semester. I looked him up and down just to make sure…he'd gotten a haircut and hasn't gained the Freshman 15 yet-could probably used it (not sure what I expected…disheveled hair, signs of depression or severe homesickness?). He looked…happy…I was breathing easy again. We went over to see the fraternity house (where he wants to live next year). They'd had a Social (party) the night before…let's just say it looked like a house where thirty some college boys live (feet sticking to the floor...think 'Animal House'). DH's house was the same in college. The 'brothers' were really nice…they were all painting the upstairs hall and they're in the process of refinishing the downstairs oak floors so they were really proud of their work. We found out DS1's pledge name is 'Twilight' because he looks like the lead (Robert Pattinson). We met my SIL and her family (and my PSU Goddaughter) for dinner at The Corner (1 crab cake and 1 rib) and then we went back to the rental house. We left for the tailgate Saturday about 9:30am (coffee and ¼ bagel w/cream cheese). One of SIL's neighbors and several of the neighbors PSU Alumni friends joined us, so we had 5 cars tailgating. It was a great tailgate…lots of great food and some games to play (ate mostly dips/chips and a small piece of steak, probably more than a cup since it was over 4.5 hours). It was a beautiful football day…over 60 degrees and sunny (unusually warm for November). We had one problem with a large group of students (and about 8 parents who stood by and did absolutely nothing) throwing food and a football at us and an OSU/PSU mixed group between us (in our OSU gear with our mainly PSU tailgate) and them (they'd had too much to drink). It started when one of the group next to us was waving an OSU flag so that someone coming to the tailgate could find them. One PSU young Alumni told me he went over and tried to talk to the students and get them to stop as they'd hit his wife in the face with a football…they just jeered at him. DD was really upset that someone stole two small OSU flags off one of our games…I tried to calm her down and let her know that you get out of control people at every school. That put a damper on things for a little while, but we still had a great tailgate with our OSU/PSU mixed group…we just ignored them. They gave out this button everywhere DS1 and his friends came over to tailgate for awhile…it didn't surprise me a bit that he came in full face paint (paw print logo he drew on his face and even his hair was painted white. He was thrilled that he was going to sit in the 'Seniors Section' and got to be in row 4 (students all in one section in the end zone and around one corner by class-best seats for Seniors and Paternoville) since he'd done the campout at Paternoville with 10 of his friends. The game started at 3:30pm and it was a perfect night. The PSU stadium is really nice and the 'Whiteout' the students had was really impressive (voted best student section in the nation-ESPN). They give out white 'shaker poms' to each student and it's cool to watch all the synchronized things they do to music and chants. It got really cold soon as the sun went down, but I'd outfitted all of us with hats, gloves and scarves and had extra chemical hand-warmers to pass out to the group. OSU won. We had a late dinner (few chips/dip-PB'd them up eating too fast, and few bites of a hotdog) back at the house (some family drama, but I'll save that for tomorrow). (you tube- student section at the game) We picked up DS1 early (don't think he had even 4 hours of sleep that night LOL) and we all went to breakfast (1 scrambled egg and about ½C of oatmeal) with SIL's family and said our goodbyes. We picked up all our camping gear (Paternoville) back at DS1's dorm and walked over to the Creamery (Food Sciences run shop) for an ice cream (I did have a chocolate shake) and to finally have a chance to just talk to DS1...he'd made an appointment with a counselor this week to discuss switching majors, so we'll see what comes out of that meeting…it's reassuring to see he's being proactive and handling things well. He's having a blast at school, making lots of friends, and getting involved…it's as much a part of the college experience and becoming an adult as getting a degree is and we're happy he's adjusting to college so well! Creamery Attached Pics: - My family spelling O-H-I-O - Student Section at PSU

You look great (time for a new avatar)! -BG

Great job Todd...your quick loss is amazing (and your family is beautiful)! -BG

Congrats on the 50!!! That's such a milestone, YAY! Personally, I don't think the 'before' drinking matters much as long as your pouch is empty...it will go right through. Doc says 15 min. before, but I've read lots of Docs here have completely gotten rid of the 'before' rule. I often drink just a few min. before (I'm always behind on water LOL). Good luck with the fills girls!

Not looking for an argument here; I just need to point out to the OP also that every doc has somewhat different rules, just like they all have different diets to follow (and a little harsh to call others 'dummies' IMO). By all means, do whatever your doc says. My doc is one of the best docs in our city (known for being a leading medical city) and he says the 'carbonation stretching your pouch is a bunch of bunk; no possible way'. He told me once you're banded burping can become uncomfortable for some as there's a stoma that the belch has to now go through to come out, but if the burps don't bother you then carbonation is fine. I'm not a soda drinker, but I've had beer and tonic many times since banding with no problems. If I'd ever seen any evidence that carbonation might hurt anything then I'd be the first one to show others here...I've been on here an other sites for well over a year and I've never run across any evidence...anyone has any I'd honestly love to see it...let's be supportive of following different rules.

Full Liquids are anything you could drink through a straw (protein shakes, smoothies, slim fast, pureed soups, etc.)...they call it full to differentiate between full and clear liquids (broth, clear drinks, etc.).

I took Spinach Dip (with the Knorr veg. soup mix) to a tailgate this weekend and substituted GY for sour cream...no one noticed the difference...yum!

You're not in the zone yet...'starving' is not a word I could even use anymore. Take it as a good thing that you need more fill than some...it means you have a nice thin stoma-less fat around your stoma, right? I'd also suggest you extend the no drinking thing to as close to an hour after meals as you can...I saw a couple of studies they did and even a little water with or after a meal flushes it through much faster than if you wait an hour (time it stayed in the pouch correlated directly with amount of water and when). Also, I don't eat very many 'soft' foods at all, so the solids stick in the pouch longer. You'll get there...another fill!

Great news...we've always known you're a Superstar!!! Great outfit and look at that tiny little vest...and a belt! Too cute! You're an inspiration!!! -BG

Hmmm...maybe a drink to flush it through, but I'm not sure whether to suggest something cold or hot...I'm guessing hot would help it slide through if it's big enough to get stuck? At least you'll know if you drink something right away if it's going to get stuck or not.

Thanks Sweetie! There's lots of great blogs here that helped me and you've now started a great one yourself! Oh, and this site gives me more fits than any other (froze up on me three times today)...I lost blogs several times before I started typing them in Word and then transferring them.

Kathy- I forgot to ask the same thing Arkansas was saying...how are you getting in 1700 cals? I hardly eat anything low fat (except a few sweets, the greek yogurt, and some low fat cottage cheese...and I only have these occassionally) and I eat much more volume than you, but I'm only getting about 1000-1200 cals a day (you're drinking melted sticks of butter and didn't mention it LOL?). I'm tracking again and need to add more fruits/veggies and sometimes protein, so maybe this would up my cals. to get it all in, but still that would be even more volume...

"It's head hunger~ Food is my anti depressant." Good job...you're on your way now! If we all weren't self-medicating with food we wouldn't be here. Here's the good part...remember when I said 'no food is off limits'...well not only is that the hard part, it's also the good part. I've been on a diet for 20 years and I'm sure I've lost over 1000 pounds...I'm a good dieter...I'M NOT ON A DIET! I eat the same things my family does for the most part-minus dessert, but I have other treats...and sometimes I'll eat another leftover if they're having pasta, but not always LOL, you get the picture...other than those I eat like a normal skinny person...small (the former me would call them tiny) portions of normal food. You CAN do this...if this meant going on yet another diet I would NOT have done it. Now get in that sauna, stop eating, or whatever it takes to show your doc you're committed...and if it doesn't work out on Monday, chin up...it's just postponed! I waited a year and I'm sure you've been waiting too. If you want this to happen it will! Keep us posted and good luck! -BG

Sorry, he's right. The Band won't follow the Bander rules for you, keep you from putting the wrong things in your mouth, or keep you from eating too much...only you can do those things and you'll have to in order to lose the weight. It takes a great deal of committment. The only thing the Band will do for you is help take the hunger away between meals. BTW-I started out with a similar BMI and although I've been very successful and committed to many diets in the past, this WL has required even more committment. It was easier for me to follow a diet plan and only eat certain foods...it's much harder to make an entire lifestyle change where no food is off limits...and even harder to have to finally deal with the head hunger and food issues that got me fat to begin with. For me, any WL surgery is like an alcoholic hitting bottom...you have to be ready and committed to make the changes or you'll fail. I'd be asking myself how ready am I to do what it takes? Good luck on your decision...if you decide to do this, we're all here for you and will help you through! -BG

Wow GF...you've been through a lot! I'd love to spent weeks with my Mom...Love the quilts!!! -BG

CONGRATULATIONS Bander! Take those pain meds if you need them, it will help a lot! Sip, Sip, Sip! -BG

Find something to be positive doing...make something, read a banding book, etc. Some depression is normal for a short while. Bandster Hell is hard, but keep in mind we all had to go through it and you wouldn't see so many positive reports here if we didn't think it was all worth it. That horrible hunger you're feeling now...I don't have it anymore. Come here to get those feelings out and keep your chin up, it gets better! -BG

CONGRATULATIONS Bander! Stay ahead on the pain meds and rest up! -BG

CONGRATULATIONS Bander! Sounds like things went great! Ports are in all different places...some have them just under/on their ribs, some even between the breasts. Each doc is different (I was allowed to chose). Heal well! -BG

You are so good at following the rules and don't get me started on cooking all your own food...what dedication...you deserve every pound that comes off! I often think, after I've scarfed down a meal, that I need to slow down much more than I do...not because I'll get stuck, but just because I want to enjoy eating for a longer period of time...even though the hunger goes, the love of good food doesn't. I'm finding I no longer have much tolerance for bland food...if I only get a few bites, it better be tasty! Great blog! -BG

*Post Deleted for Lap Band Book

Whacky weight!! Kathy- Today I'm down 2.5 from yesterday and I ate like normal...that puts me up 1.5 from last Friday...OK, 1.5 I can understand. Having the partial hysterectomy I have no clue when I'm cycling, so maybe that's it. Thanks for the support GF! Barbara- You'll have to go out for a long weekend sometime (DH had to take Fri. off for us to go)...college football is fun. Have fun on your mini-vaca...sounds wonderful!!!!!

Who's to say 9 or 9.5 is crazy?! We've all got different anatomy and only you know what you need...some need their bands almost completely full. I'm a little hungry in the mornings, but you should be hungry for breakfast. Sometimes if I go longer than normal between meals I get hungry, but you should be hungry if it's been a long time. As long as I follow the bander rules and eat enough protein I'm NOT hungry between meals (and yes, I've accidently found myself hungry and realized I'd missed lunch). Do I struggle with head hunger...yep...Do I snack sometimes in the evenings...yep (last night I had almonds). If I drink with/too soon after that really effects hunger for me. Hope that helps!

Note: I thought I had this cued up to post automatically Saturday on my Blogiversary while I was away, but apparently I’m still very tech-challenged… Today is my first Blogiversary (to think a year ago I didn‘t even know what a blog was). Before I started this I made a point to read a few blogs (not on LBT) that I came across while I was researching the LB the summer before I joined LBT. I found that, while some of them were well written, I got quickly bored with the ones who didn’t have much depth-didn’t give me the ’real deal’. While I work hard to surround myself with positive people, like I strive to be, I also got bored with the ones whose lives were a bed of roses everyday…I don’t like negativity, but again, I like to get the ’real deal’…my life isn’t perfect…I’m not a perfect Bandster. So I made a conscious decision just to be myself and put it all out there…I figured if I wasn’t true to who I really am that I wouldn’t be able to attract people who had similar thinking that I needed for support. It’s my moment to be a little narcissistic so I’ll apologize now. I decided to start this blog primarily for support as I didn’t feel like going to my hospital’s support group, which has more RNYers. I quickly found support (shout-out to Julie Ann for my first comment on my first blog) and I found out that I was learning so much from everyone here. I also found that as I finished each phase of my journey that I felt a strong need to ‘Pay It Forward’ through spending extra time with more research/details on subjects of my blog and by supporting others in theirs. I decided to take a look back at my blog and see what others thought was helpful. WOW, some interesting realizations came out of that: - 41,598 Views of my blog - Almost 500 Comments from others - Someone gave me ‘stars’ on one blog…I didn’t even notice that there was a rating system for blogs! Wow, that was cool… And then I looked at the top viewed blogs (you can use the calendar to your left to click on to get to any of these by the date): - I’m a Bunny (4/3/09) - My Wii Hates Mii (5/12/09) - My Heart’s in the Right Place (8/12/09) - Head Hunger and Bandster Hell…or maybe it‘s just Hell (5/2/09) - I Peed My Pants! (11/10/09) - LB Picasso (3/4/09) - Steeler’s Nation and a Funny Song (1/31/09) - Restriction…Finding the Balance (6/18/09) - The Buzz about Coffee (3/12/09) - Scale ***** (2/22/09) - Dorm Décor (6/29/09) - Hospital Packing List (2/24/09) - Off with her head! (4/15/09) - Dear Abby’s Daughter (2/5/09) - Band Firsts (5/26/09) - Scale Whores Anonymous- Semi-Annual Meeting (8/12/09) The only one I’ve directed people to, more often than you’d think, is my second blog as I run across a lot of people here who are right on the cusp of either a 35 or a 40 BMI when they’re starting out (‘I Peed My Pants!). Ahh well, I’m still going to believe that I helped someone somewhere along the line…at least I know I helped their site with their ‘hits’ with getting sponsors LOL. As I’ve progressed in my journey here I feel like I’m starting to have less to talk about regarding my Lap Band. I often feel a little guilty about just journaling for myself about my life and not about the LB. I feel like I’m misusing the site blogs and that those looking for LB info. might be disappointed some days. I’ve had a lot of messages all along over the year suggesting I take my blog to a more universal site, but I‘ve always felt that while I‘m still blogging mainly about my LB journey that this spot was the best way for me to ‘Pay it Forward‘ and for me to continue learning. I’m not sure where the next year will take me, or how much I’ll continue blogging, but like the rest of this journey, I’ll take it as it comes. *Portion of Post Deleted For Lap Band Book I know one thing, this blog has given me everything I’ve wanted from it and many more things I’ve never even expected. I’ve enjoyed it much more than I ever thought possible. I’ve gotten so much support and made so many great friends here (if you’re ever near Pittsburgh, let me know)! I’m constantly surprised by what I end up writing about and by what I learn through this process. Most of all on this Blogiversary I want to say I love you all and want to say THANK YOU for your support and friendship! This past year would have been such a lonely journey and I would have struggled so much more without you all. It would have felt like I have on every other ‘diet’ I’ve been on constantly for the past 20 years. Even surrounded with great friends and family, the WL piece of my life, even with all the temporary ’successes’ was always a very lonely, frustrating and even shameful piece of my life. I’ve never gone through a WL process where I’ve felt so positive even at moments where things weren’t going perfectly. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for always being there for me.

I sat next to a guy who just graduated and was in the PSU Blue Band last year...he was telling us lots of great stories...halftime is the best! OK, I'll bite...what's the '12th Man'? Yeah, still up 4 pounds this morning...incredible...sigh.