mattie7632

Not sure you understood my post ...I was trying to put it nicely because I don't know the poster or her situation. What I simply meant is that employees don't get fired JUST because they want time off for surgery. I have good employees and I'm going to hold onto them surgery or not-- the good one's, that is. Times are tough, and if employees are not pulling their weight, I as the employer, have no obligation to do them favors outside of the law. Not trying to start a war here....but think of it this way....if you had an extra $10,000 to have work performed --such as work on your house, housekeeping, babysitting, whatever it may be, you probably want your money's worth, right? It's the same on the business side, especially when we have small businesses. We NEED our employees to be there and to do the job we are paying them for. There's another person waiting in line for the job if the worker won't or can't do what is needed.

Thanks guys! I hear what you're saying.......even though I "pig out" and seem to lose, I can't seem to allow myself to do that regularly, so I hope that's the right way to go!

Let me just be the bad guy here as I read all these posts. I am a business owner. I have employees. A few are remarkable and would have no problems from me if they came in wanting time off for this surgery. However, people don't seem to understand that the bottom line here is that business can't function when employees aren't there. There have been many, many, many situations and staff that would have received the very same outcome from me had they sent me an email, or however it went down, telling me they were taking off for surgery. The employee-employer situation has to be win-win, and when it's not...well then, we all know what eventually happens.

Good Luck! You'll do fine!

Yes it is hard to get and stay on track! I hate the fact that right now, many times I can still overeat. While I don't always or even that often, I still have my times

Sorry...I noticed that you are not newly banded after I posted that. Maybe a recent fill would cause the swelling too, and hence the hiccups and belching.

My doctor has a poster in his office for signs to watch out for in an "overfill"....One of them is hiccups and belching. Are you newly banded? The first week or two of banding for me the swelling caused those symptoms.....

I've thought about that myself...to kick start things again. I did a clear liquid diet for 7 days so you'd think I could do it again for just a couple, but wow I'm having a hard time starting again! I think because I'm not sure I can stomach broth again!

Hummingbird you are describing the "sweet spot" I am aiming for. Honestly, what others describe as restriction doesn't seem to be what I would expect. I have "restriction" right now, but by all means it's not doing enough. I'm waiting for things to be as you describe....which is what I have each time my stomach is swollen. I don't think we should have to work that hard if we've reached perfect restriction.

Yep, mine's just above and slightly to the left of my belly button.

hmmmm, might have to give that a try.....

Awesomely put Cleo's Mom!!! And I too am so sick of TOOL!!!! We all know it's a tool and will do better if we make better choices, but jeez even my doctor and dietician used that word to death. The more I hear "It's a tool" the more I seem to interpret that as "the band doesn't work if I'm not on a diet" and I think we all paid a ton of money and expect the band to pay off even if we aren't good dieters!

Yes I had them too, they go away ......

I am post-op by about 8 weeks and I would say that my nails are actually better and stronger now, probably from eating more protein.

LOLOL!!! Why can't they just go back to the way they were when we were 20???

That was a fascinating video. And kind of sad actually. If the band has not reduced your hunger, have you found it to be successful at all?

When I first started eating after surgery, I was still swollen I'm sure, and that swelling prevented me from eating more than say 1/2 cup at at time and I was definitely full, plus went hours before being hungry again. That is the goal for me, and that's the restriction I'm aiming for. I do understand that this is a tool and works differently at different stages for everyone, but the way I see it, we paid a whole lot of money for this tool, and I want my money's worth. If I have to use livestrong.com to count calories, weigh my food, etc. etc. then personally, that's dieting and that's what I'd have to do without the band. So, we shall see, but my doctor will be hearing from me if he's not filling my band enough in the next fill or two for REAL RESTRICTION to be the result.

That is the best dang analogy ever!!!

Great job!

Your medical doctor will likely have to sign a form giving you medical clearance for the surgeon. My medical doctor required labs and an ekg before he would sign off on the form. That could also be a reason your doctor wanted to do the labs now instead of later.

Maybe it's because the new band isn't filled at all? Can I be nosy and ask if your insurance covered this? How do you suppose it slipped? I thought that since they sutured your stomach around the band that basically that should hold it in place?

I'm with Heather, the powders are gross. We even bought some high dollar super stuff from my chiro's office, and I really just can't drink it, it's just as gross as the rest!

That's a great idea on the utensils! Thanks! I believe that will make a difference!

PURE Protein has 21 or 23 grams of protein and about 110 or 120 calories. I only like the Cookies N Creme, don't really like their vanilla or chocolate. I have only found it at Target which seems to be out a lot of this flavor I just grabbed a few different brands that had higher protein and found I like this one best, you will probably have to do some trial and error as well

What the heck? I've been so good and the past couple days I seem to have zero self control! I feel like a growing toddler who wants to constantly eat! I haven't been like this at all since being banded, what's the deal? I don't dare weigh myself because I know I must be upping the scale now! Obviously I can't consume huge amounts of food at one time, but we know we can still be bad!! Has anyone had this happen or felt so out of control with their cravings? I thought I was on track......