Band_Groupie

LOL...Happy Monday! Fascinating work...my Geologist DH would appreciate it! It's good to be doing something that's not boring!! -BG

WELCOME to LBT and CONGRATULATIONS!! Don't worry things will improve each day! -BG

WELCOME to LBT!! The left shoulder is gas pain (the gas isn't there, but it's referred pain that goes to the nerve there). The walking you're doing will help your body to move the gas out (and no it's not in your colon, but your abdomen so your body has a hard time absorbing it and moving it out). You'll feel better each day! Best wishes! -BG

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GF!!! ...and cough up that recipe...I'm not a cook, but we all know I love to bake! -BG

Welcome to LBT and the start of your journey! Best Wishes! -BG

Awesome blog! Here's to normal!! -Bg

Yeah GF! I hope lots of Banders read this and see that sometimes it only takes a tiny unfill to change everything...and if you felt it was important enough to drive 14 hours then how could anyone else complain. Remind me of this when I have my first overfill please! You're rockin' that band girl! -BG

CONGRATULATIONS!!! You'll do great!! -BG

CONGRATULATIONS!!! -BG

Yeah for Onederland!!! Awesome job!!! -BG

Give it a week- 10 days and you'll feel like a new person. Keep on walking and a heating pad helped me. Best wishes! -BG

LOL Capn'! Some get hungry the day they get home and for some it takes a week or so. The hunger does come back, it's normal. Your band has some restriction now only from the stomach tissue swelling, but that will go down. It's all about healing for the first six weeks. The most important thing is getting your fluids in. The band will be helping you soon enough...be patient (GINGER that goes for you too...I didn't have good restriction until my 3rd fill...yes, it's a small pouch, but right now the funnel hole is huge). You'll get there! Best wishes! -BG

Yep, another one who took until the 3rd fill to really feel something (and my fills usually loosen in a few days too). Remember it's not about being 'full' it's about being 'satisfied' until your next meal...and always protein first! Good luck! -BG

WOW 43 lbs. in 2 months is great!!! Keep it up! -BG

"kind of a richard"...it took me 5 min. to puzzle that one out LOL. So there's my 'blondness' to cheer you up. Here's you're big mistake...you didn't go back for the fill, but I think you already know that. I 'think' I felt a tiny difference with my second fill, but it wasn't until my 3rd fill that really had some restriction (and a 4th small fill to make things perfect). So pat yourself on the back...you've lost 40 pounds all by yourself without any help from the band. Hopefully that next fill will make a difference to you., but if not...keep getting those fills until you do. I'll also suggest that you use the next several weeks before the fill to take a look at calories and portion sizes of what you're eating now so that it will help you when you get that restriction. I've found it helpful to use a calorie tracking site (I use Fitday) for a week or so, from time to time to check on how I'm really doing (my doc suggests 1000-1200/cals per day and I'm sure your nut/doc gave you some guidelines). As you know it's all about calories in and calories out for any WL... Best wishes! -BG

All fine and good, but JT...what we REALLY want to know is....HOW WAS THE VACATION?!! Where'd ya go; what'd ya do LOL? At least please just tell me it was somewhere warm...I'm freezing here (we've had snow flurries already).

So we've been talking about teens lately here on LBT and I've had some new updates in my middle one's (DS1) life at college this month. He's pretty sure he already wants to change his major…not a big surprise as many college students do. I give PSU a lot of credit for immersing them in a course in their major their first semester. He’s decided that an Engineering Major (in CS)- is not for him as it doesn’t involve enough people interaction and he doesn’t want a job where you sit at a computer all day. Well, that’s good to know sooner rather than later. He’s bright and has time to figure out what he wants to do…my DH was ‘Undeclared’ until they came and made him pick a major his junior year. We reviewed his plan and listened. I'm trying so hard to NOT to be a 'Helicopter Mom' (the ones that hover and solve all their problems for them; I know college is as much about becoming an adult as it is about school). DS's already been to get advice from three of the Profs in the Engineering Dept. so they’ve got a plan (and I'm not worried...yet). He joined a fraternity (put a wrench in all our plans to see him as he has 'pledge duties' and events, but I'm NOT hovering)…when we called him last night he was scraping out the deep fryer at the fraternity house with another Pledge. They’d run out of dish soap and were contemplating whether floor soap would work LOL (OK, I had to make a few suggestions on this one...I'm the Clean Queen). He’s the Treasurer of his Pledge Class, so it's good he's getting involved. I was glad to hear the fraternity has mandatory study hours for him…sounds like a balance…we’ll see...DH and I met as Greeks…we know. So yesterday afternoon I get an urgent call from him wanting to borrow all our camping gear …and I need it in two hours…Oh, and I need the big 4 room tent because we have 10 guys. Me- OK, where are you camping? I’m thinking this might be a pledge class thing. PATERNOVILLE! he says excitedly. So after several stressful hours of packing up his long list (tent, tarps, lantern, sleeping gear, board games, etc.) and adding a few of my own (bags and bags of chips and food, an extra blanket, and a small gift for my God-daughter/his cousin there…I have to keep my informants happy), two of his friends (that go to a satellite of PSU near here) came to pick it all up on their way to Main Campus. So you’re asking…WHAT THE HECK IS PATERNOVILLE? Well, I can tell you. Penn State has long given out non-seat specific tickets to students (they all sit in one section), and in order to get front row seats on the rail, students started camping out a few days prior to games. PSU became part of the Big 10 and in 2005 with the biggest and longest (6 day) campout in anticipation of the Ohio State game, the name ‘Paternoville’ (for Coach Joe Paterno) was finally given to the tent city when one student hung a banner with the name. Paternoville now has its own student government with officers and continues to grow. There are all kinds of rules like: you have to pre-register, max 10 in a group, one per group has to be lined up at the stadium at all times (they take turns…after all they’re expected to still go to school) what day/time they’re allowed to set up (Thursdays for most games, it’s a week before for the OSU game), etc. …and they’ve got it down to a science. The Paternovillers get special wristbands and on game day the stadium workers wake the camp about 6:30am with the loud speakers playing the sound of a rooster crowing, by 7am the tents have to be down. Well, it snowed yesterday at PSU and Paternoville was cancelled for this week’s game due to the weather. We bought tickets for our whole family to go to the OSU game there on Nov. 7th and stay the whole weekend to visit (as did my God-daughter's family...can't wait to see him...I'm NOT hovering)…I’m sure it will be another Penn State White Out. We’ll be easy to spot in our Ohio State Alumni scarlet and gray and no, we won’t be staying in Paternoville …but I know who will (pic attached)! Ahhh...the life of a college Freshman....

Just another bander who eats all the above, regularly I have a piece of pizza almost every Friday night. There's not a single food out there that I can't eat and I'm at my Sweet Spot...losing 1.5-2 lbs. a week. If you can't eat solid Proteins like hamburger (yes, moist is best) then you're too tight.

Agree with the above, but just an FYI, my doc says 1 Cup as many do. I'd have a hard time getting in all my nutritional needs and protein with just a 1/2 C at meals...there'd be no room for fruits, veggies, etc. as 1/2C is what I eat in just protein...about 3 oz. of meat.

You can always check it by clicking the 'About Me' under your personal profile (click on your name to get there). It's there and looks great!!! Congrats on the 24 lbs.!!!

Yep, sometimes I get busy and before I know it it's 2pm and I haven't eaten lunch yet. It's a magic band! -BG

We eat it several times a month (teens in the house) and I only have one slice too (with the crust...and it doesn't take me anywhere near an hour to eat, but it probably should LOL...I have the worst trouble with slowing down!). Good job with the 'head catching up' and great story! -BG

I've always said I could live on bread and chocolate. I keep the Russel Stover's SF chocolates (big variety of fillings and dark or milk) as well as other sweets like SF preserves to put on Greek yogurt, SF maple syrup to go on my morning oatmeal, and SF fudgesicles, popsicles and creamsicles. I have one of those chocolates most nights after dinner and that gives me something to look forward to. I'm about 6 mo. out and a very good yo-yo dieter. I've never gone this long without losing it on sweets big time a lot. I have my moment when head hunger wins, but now I can have a bit and I'm OK...it's the weirdest thing. I've taken the attitude that nothing is ever off limits and I don't feel deprived like I have on other diets. If you're really worried about this, I'd at least discuss RNY with my doc as that would give you the added feedback of dumping that some (not all) get.