Band_Groupie

Lena- It's in the 80's and sunny here. You really need to move up North where the weather is nicer...LOL. The only thing worse than a mulch pile? A wet mulch pile (like it's not heavy enough already!). We're expecting scattered showers over the weekend...YIKES.

Hi there! Just wanted to say I go for my first fill the same day (banded 4/22). Most people don't have any restriction with a first fill, but here's hoping we will! The above advice is perfect, and we should be able to tell even with soft foods if restriction is there...if so, just take things slowly. Good luck and keep me posted! -BG

My kids are off school for the next 5 days. Boy, that huge mulch pile arrived at just the right time…coincidence? I’ve been thinking, many of you are probably taking trips for Memorial Day weekend. Yes, the mulch pile has my name on it, but you're headed to better places...probably involving a beach chair and a cabana boy. I'm happy for you.......really I am. Now you know the traffic is going to be crazy and I want my LBT friends to be safe out there. Please drive safely people and pay attention to the street signs as you're driving new routes through unfamiliar streets! Pay close attention to the speed limit signs. And I'm sure you know better than to speed lest you spend your long weekend in the pokey (no cabana boys there, but maybe some cute boys in uniform). Children have the weekend off too. Remember my kids are off starting today, so please don't hit them...I can't make any more...and that mulch pile has their names on it too. You might want to wake up the person riding shotgun when you need some help navigating and fly by signs like these at 45 mph. ...and when in doubt, just STOP and get your bearings. Have a great vacation...and if you have no plans, no worries, you can always PM me for my address...we've got some crazy fun times planned involving wheelbarrows and pitchforks. I'll SIGN you up...I'm even taking long haired freaky people!

Wow, that's great that some of you have great restriction already! My doc puts 0 in at surgery because he says even a little is too much for some and they never need a fill. Now me, I could eat a huge hamburger whole...no such luck.

Happy Birthday Greg!!! What an awesome birthday...sweet spot without the sweets! 60 lbs. is awesome!! Have a great evening! -BG

You look great...and NICE jacket! Congratulations on all the hard work! -BG

Barbara...LOL...I had white wine too!!! Let's keep reminding ourselves this isn't another diet!! Nothing is off limits, we just have to learn to make better choices and less of the bad ones...a little restriction would help, huh?! A girls weekend sounds great!

*Post Deleted for Lap Band Book

LOL...my kids say I have 'oldtimers'. When's your first fill (mine is 6/2)?

You might recall I turned 50 the same week I got my Band (and DH’s 50th too). The next week we had DD’s college graduation and had both sides of the family in for a small party. DH and I decided we didn’t want to celebrate our 50th’s while the family was here as it would take away from DD’s event and we wanted the weekend to be all about her. We did open a few gifts at discreet times over the weekend. You might recall I turned 50 the same week I got my Band (and DH's 50th too). The next week we had DD's college graduation and had both sides of the family in for a small party. DH and I decided we didn't want to celebrate our 50th's while the family was here as it would take away from DD's event and we wanted the weekend to be all about her. We did open a few gifts at discreet times over the weekend. DD has been telling me that she's been working hard on our gift (from the boys and her) and this weekend they presented it to us. They bought us tickets to the Jimmy Buffet Concert! She also arranged for 3 of our favorite couples/friends to go. We go next week and I can't wait! When we lived in Columbus, DH was in Sales and we lived within a few miles of the local amphitheater. His boss loved taking customers to this concert, so we hosted customers and went every year. If you've never been, it's a rowdy raucous event…huge tailgate parties with the most outrageous setups you've ever seen; tiki bars, swimming pools, palm trees, shark and fins ontop of cars, with limbo, hula hoop contests and giant twister games; people dressed in beach gear, Captain hats, pirate outfits, coconut bras and grass skirts. Beach balls and inflatable sharks fly all through the concert, and everyone (all ages, seriously) dancing and having fun. We had one couple have to cancel one year at the last minute, so I took my parents. I made my Dad (loves attention) a baseball cap with a parrot attached (fans are called 'Parrot Heads') and a sign on the front that said 'Virgin Parrot Head'. I got them dressed in Hawaiian shirts and leis. He was delighted at all the attention he got…Parrot Heads love old people at the concert, and a virgin is even better! We haven't been since the move (9 years) as the amphitheatre here is an hour away and tickets sell out within minutes. DD finally snagged some from a ticket broker and we're all set…I'll have to get some new hats ready for our friends! It's on a Tuesday night; how much trouble can I get into...we'll see! Fins up! Random Fan Photos:

No red meat...EVER? I don't think I've seen anyone else have that rule. Is the eating every 2-4 hours forever? I'm only allowed 3 meals, no Snacks. This is all so interesting.

I was moving cars into the garage this morning to make room for the mountain of mulch (8 cubic yards...my back hurts just thinking about it) that will be arriving any minute and was reminded I keep forgetting to tell you that DD bought her first car. She could have had this: Or this lovely ‘green’ car: But Instead she bought a Toyota Corolla. It’s used, but is in pristine, mint condition, has very low mileage and gets over 40 mpg. It was honestly owned by a ‘little old lady” (my brother is in the Automotive industry). Before she saw it she was a little disappointed in the color (same as the one in the pic), but then it was love at first sight. I was reminded of my first car…my hatchback Plymouth Arrow…When I found the ad in the paper my first question on the phone was “What color is it?”. It was red and I thought I had the sexiest car around…I had to keep jumper cables next to me on the front seat at all times, but I loved that car. DH bought his first car in HS. It was a Mustang and he still talks about that car. First cars are like other important 'firsts' in your life; you never forget them. First cars are a rite of passage into the adult world. They give you the independence and freedom to go where you want, when you want, and they signal to the world that you’re now old enough...to have your own debt!

Oh you poor thing...I'm SO glad everything turned out all right! We've had a few similar scares over the past few years and I swear it's just to make you appreciate your life and health even more. Happy pre-op diet beginning! You're on your way! -BG

Thanks for sharing this! What is the ABC when you get stuck? -BG

The puppy breath and tongue are due to Ketosis (low carb diet)...your body is burning fat...it's a good thing.

Wow...great info.! I feel gypped...my Psych eval. was 20 min. and about half the time it was silence while he wrote things down. It sounds like you'll have a great doc to rely on if you need help along the way. We all have food issues and most of us have emotions tied to food...let me know if you find the holy grail!

Hey Jewels! That's great weight loss! I'm a hystersister graduate...had mine almost 4 years ago. Hope you feel better soon!

Holy freeholy JT! Now you've got me scared...I never asked anyone about the diet following fills! OK, I had the strictest post-op diet of anyone I could find in our April group...3 weeks of Clear Liquids and skim milk, 400-450 cals/day. I'm guessing I won't be eating again after fills! Was your post-op diet pretty strict? I've never seen anyone have such an elaborate post-fill diet plan. 8 week plan...and 'no carbs' after week 6...like EVER again??!! Did you even have an 8 week plan post op?!!! Sorry, but I just can't get over this! The good news is he offered you 4cc's, and even the 3 that you got is a big first fill! Here's hoping your restriction stays. Thanks for the warning...I'm going to call and ask!

Thanks gals...too much fun!!! LOL, it's not next Tues., in my excitement I heard 'May' (I've got oldtimers)...not until June 23...that's OK...more time to plan my outfit and tailgate party...Woot! Pickly, backstage passes, too cool! DH's ex-boss knew the sax player Amy (long curly red hair), so we always got signed CD's for the customers. A backstage pass would be so fun! Jazzy- Words of Wisdom...yep, don't do what I do (testing the band...bad, very bad). I'm back to tracking everything on Fitday and concentrating mainly on getting in the solid proteins and the water right now. I am following the liquid timing rules, but I forget to drink enough between meals...I'm always short on water and by the time I've waited an hour after meals I get busy and forget to start drinking (oldtimers, I'm telling you). I've lost 1.5 pounds so far this week (for our Friday weigh-ins), so I know even though I've had my slips, I'm still not getting a ton of calories like I would have normally. I'm not hungry at all during the day...night is going to be my battle. I think a good stiff solid protein and NOT chewing all that well (haven't gotten stuck yet so the bigger the pieces the longer it stays above the wide open funnel) is going to be key for me until I get some restriction (had 4oz. of the pork tenderloin for lunch and I'm stuffed). Can't wait for a few fills...first one 6/2 (can't believe many in our April group have already had 3 fills!!).

Exactly...those are all the excuses I would have had to gain back the 50 or so pounds I had just lost on some diet (professional yo-yoer here)...that's why it's inspiring to see you still plugging along through all that 'life' stuff on your journey down. It's something I've never been able to do...keep it up! -BG

I love when you post your weight loss and what was going on at the time...it's helpful to see that it's just a tool and life and other things can effect your weight just like usual. You're doing great! It must feel WONDERFUL! Congrats! -BG

You might recall I turned 50 the same week I got my Band (and DH’s 50th too). The next week we had DD’s college graduation and had both sides of the family in for a small party. DH and I decided we didn’t want to celebrate our 50th’s while the family was here as it would take away from DD’s event and we wanted the weekend to be all about her. We did open a few gifts at discreet times over the weekend. DD has been telling me that she’s been working hard on our gift (from the boys and her) and this weekend they presented it to us. They bought us tickets to the Jimmy Buffet Concert! She also arranged for 3 of our favorite couples/friends to go. We go next week and I can’t wait! When we lived in Columbus, DH was in Sales and we lived within a few miles of the local amphitheater. His boss loved taking customers to this concert, so we hosted customers and went every year. If you’ve never been, it’s a rowdy raucous event…huge tailgate parties with the most outrageous setups you’ve ever seen; tiki bars, swimming pools, palm trees, shark and fins ontop of cars, with limbo, hula hoop contests and giant twister games; people dressed in beach gear, Captain hats, pirate outfits, coconut bras and grass skirts. Beach balls and inflatable sharks fly all through the concert, and everyone (all ages, seriously) dancing and having fun. We had one couple have to cancel one year at the last minute, so I took my parents. I made my Dad (loves attention) a baseball cap with a parrot attached (fans are called ‘Parrot Heads’) and a sign on the front that said ‘Virgin Parrot Head’. I got them dressed in Hawaiian shirts and leis. He was delighted at all the attention he got…Parrot Heads love old people at the concert, and a virgin is even better! We haven’t been since the move (9 years) as the amphitheatre here is an hour away and tickets sell out within minutes. DD finally snagged some from a ticket broker and we’re all set…I’ll have to get some new hats ready for our friends! It's on a Tuesday night; how much trouble can I get into...we'll see! Fins up! Random Fan Photos:

JT- LOL...OK, needles and blood don't bother me too much, but looking down and seeing blood dripping down your hand and a big puddle on the floor...I would have freaked a little!

That's so cool! Take that day and revel in it! Congratulations!