SunnyRachel

Hi, Marcy! Welcome to the forum from a northern neighbor! I hope you find all the information you need. Everybody here is really helpful and encouraging. It's easier to start this journey with a friend!

The left side under your ribs can be tender a few weeks, if that's the side you are having trouble with. I hope you keep healing nicely! Congratulations on your surgery!

I just got one on Monday too, and for the first couple days, I had a ton of restriction. It's getting better now, but I did lose two pounds this week! Hang in there!

Hi, Joanathan! Welcome! I hope you are having a smooth recovery. I look forward to hearing more from you! Take care!

I like how they highlighted how her diet has changed instead of just letting people think she magically lost 90 lbs while eating pizza! And good for her for wanting to be healthy and not Hollywood skinny. Too bad more stars can't project that same attitude. Thanks for sharing this!

HAIRBALL, Mexican style!!!

Okay, Danielle! You can do this!!!! This is the biggest test of your life right now. Can you follow rules?? Of course you can!! It's hard right now because you still have your big loose stomach and hungry is coming from your head... but you've got to hang in there and buckle down until April 1st. After the surgery, yes, you will still have to follow rules, but it will be easier because your tight new little pouch will become louder than your brain, and you will obey it. ha ha ha ha Did your doctor say when you were to have your one main meal? Before surgery during my pre-op dieting, I decided that since I'm a morning person, I'd have my big meal in the morning. So if you have the option to choose when, maybe decide what part of the day you feel most hungry and plan that as your meal. April 1st will be here before you know it... and you will feel so much better the night before surgery knowing that you followed directions. You can do it!! Hang in there and congratulations!

Oh, sliming is this automatic action that happens if you are on the verge of vomiting... or having a PB. The saliva comes really fast to try to get the stuck object moving, only it kind of makes it worse. You'll feel yourself trying to swallow a lot. I have not PB'd yet, but have come close a few times this week after my fill on Monday. It is not fun at all... so just do your best to chew really well and go very slow... taking more time to eat is better than spending the next 15 to 20 minutes in agony.

That was really cute! Thanks for sharing!

I agree with Diane. I thought I was chewing slower, but with my second fill just days ago, I'm realizing that I still chew way too fast. I can tell when I know a little lump has just slipped past...and I sit there quietly and wait for it to slam down into my pouch like a bomb.... it's like I'm waiting for the kaboom.... that's when I know I was chewing too fast. It's kind of like the ball dropping at New Year's... it's just sliding down while you are on pins and needles. As far as the psychological... for me, the pain of eating that one bite over my limit is enough to discourage me sometimes. (Most times, but there is that one time I push it too far now and then.) I used to be a member of the Clean Plate Club too. It sounds crazy, but I literally fight myself sometimes by repeating over and over again in my head, "It's not worth it! It's not worth it! It's not worth it!" -- I've even stopped myself in the middle of a bite and put the fork back down. Okay...so at that point I make a decision... am I going to take this home for later (if I'm out), or is this not worth keeping as a leftover? If I'm home, I get up quickly and put it away in a container. If I'm out, I quickly try to get a box (or ask for a box ahead of time) so you can quickly pack it out of sight and have a clean plate...no temptation to pick at it. Now, if it's not good enough to save for later, but you think you'll be tempted, dump it in the trash right away, or if you are out, shake a bunch of salt or something all over it so you won't want to grab just one more bite. (Even though it is a shame to waste such yummy food... but it's just not worth it. :sneaky: Right?) I still enjoy eating out... and I say to myself, "Yay! I can eat this three more times this week for the price of one meal. See, I'm saving money!" ha ha ha I hope that might give you some ideas to try. You can do this! You can conquer your brain's desire to stick with old habits. It's hard, but you can do it!

http://www.5daypouchtest.com Above is the link to the pouch test. I am somewhat new to the band still...had surgery on November 4, 2008. I would not be a good person to answer the rest of your questions. I'm sorry. I do have the sense though, after talking with my doctor, that tighter isn't always better. I find that when I get less calories, my progress stalls. My body might be more sensitive to panic attacks when it thinks I'm going to starve it. ha ha ha So actually, eating more works best for me. In the morning, when the pouch is real tight, I stick to Protein shakes. Even though I'm not hungry, for me, it's much better than just waiting until I am actually hungry. I also try my best to time my liquids so that I do strictly follow the drinking rules of the pouch. I hope you will get some good suggestions here and also some support from the team that does your fills. Have they offered you any suggestions??

What was it about it that you didn't like? Was it just the standard protein taste or something else? Have you tried doctoring it up a little bit first, like a spoonful of Nestle Quick or a spoonful of Peanut Butter? Are you using milk or Water to mix it? Maybe if we put our heads together, we can find a way for you to still get your money's worth out of it. I discovered quickly that 1% milk was not that much less healthier than skim, and once I switched back to 1%, it cut a lot of that protein taste -- since skim milk tastes like it too, so it had been doubling that taste instead of hiding it. lol

Ewwww, Muscle Milk tasted like strained sweat socks and bile to me. I get shivers just thinking about it. I really think the Protein manufacturers should sell single-serving powder samples so you can road test these things before investing in the big canister... but then again, maybe that's how they make their money. ha ha ha

Hi! Have you tried the "Nectar" line by Syntrax? I have the Caribbean Cooler, it's like a pina colada flavor. I blend it with ice, 1 banana, and 100% Dole fruit juice. They have other flavors that sound really good. The powder itself is 90 calories, 0 carbs, and 23g. Protein. Special K protein Water mixes are good too. If the taste isn't quite right for you, add more water and throw in some crystal light. I think it's sweet enough though. I also use Designer Whey's "Natural" (Not vanilla, but Natural flavor.) protein powder. This is unflavored, still has that mild milk taste to it, but very slight. It hides easily in instant pudding mixes or Soups, especially cream of potato or cream of chicken. Don't be afraid to spice up your protein shakes a little. Someone suggested creamers -- I have tried it, and it's pretty good. Sometimes a teaspoon of Nestle Quick helps. If you like chai tea, you can find chai spice in your spice aisle and add some of that with a little Splenda or sweetener of your choice. Don't settle for protein out of the box -- be a little creative, and you might find a combination you like. Congratulations on your surgery!!!!

What a great hubby!! You guys can do it!!!!! A little bit of torture will be so worth it!! I wish you all the best!

Hi! Congratulations on your surgery!!! I assumed I had no fill at surgery, but came to find out that I actually had 3cc in my band at surgery. That's a lot of pressure on a traumatized stomach. I had to really make myself sip that soup and Water. I had no desire to, and it seemed really hard, but after a few days, the liquids started going down easier. I hope your surgeon's office will give you some peace of mind. Keep sipping those liquids and feel better soon!!

Have a great surgery!!! Were you on the Opti-Fast pre-op diet to shrink your liver, or just on it as an insurance qualifier, you know, three or six months managed diet? I guess it depends on your surgeon. Mine did not require fasting before the surgery to shrink the liver, but other surgeons do. If your surgeon recommended it for that reason, then do your best today to stick to it, if you can. I wish you a smooth surgery and quick recovery! Take care!

Wow! I'm really sorry for this unexpected health crisis. I hope you feel better soon and recover quickly. Just personally, Don, 240 does not sound like a mountain to move, and for a male, I bet you will be able to move it quickly. If surgery is safe at all for you, the band sounds like a safer choice. Again, just my personal gut feeling. Whatever road you choose, I wish you continued health and no more surprises like this one. Please feel better soon!!

Hi, Ann! My name is Rachel. I'm a neighbor of yours kind of...I'm up here in York, PA...but work in Baltimore, Rockville, et cetera. I just wanted to say hi and welcome you to the forum. I know all of the fears you have right now. I have been right there in your chair saying the same things to myself. This is a scary venture. This is hard. You are altering your body... you are giving up many yummy things, but....... your attitude can also change from it, the whole way you look at food... your relationship with food. I am and will always be a sweet fiend. I can smell sugar a mile away. I just always needed it... always! But now, I'm happy to say that I look at things differently now with the band. I'm not going to say I'm perfect and have eaten only healthy food, but I follow the rules of the band, and it keeps me from going wild. Yes, I've eaten cookies. Yes, I've had ice cream. What's different though is that I have more control over myself. One cookie now once or twice a week, as compared to a box of cookies four or five times a week in the past... to me, that's a big improvement. If you've done all of your research and have gotten your questions answered to your satisfaction, and you really believe the band is right for you, then now you just have to conquer your fear of yourself. You have to learn how to trust yourself again. You have to believe that you can and will do what's right for your body at all costs. You can do this! You can quiet those negative thoughts that make you think you will fail. I don't miss those thoughts any more than I miss the soda or the bread or the doughnuts. I wish you all the best!

Thank you! I'm so glad you are okay. That must have been so scary! Take care!

Hi, Shelly! Congratulations on your surgery date! Welcome to LBT. I hope you will find lots of helpful information and friendly people to encourage your progress. So far, I have! I wish you lots of success!

Hey there! I tried it, and wow, a little bit adds some big flavor without a ton of calories!! Thanks for the suggestion! To get the amaretto flavor I like, I used to mix in a pack of amaretto flavored hot chocolate mix, and still the flavor was very subtle and contained a lot of sugar and calories. Now I just need a little sprinkle of the creamer, and it's pretty bold. Love it! Thanks!!

Hi, Emily! Welcome to the forum. I hope you will find lots of great information to help you through your journey. The only advice I have is to never forget that you can make it happen! Nice to meet you!