Zannie

Andrea - when was your last fill? I'm tight-tight for the 1st 4 full days & then things relax a bit (I presume this is because of the weight loss I experience due to the liquid & mushies diet). Me? If it were longer than 4 days after a fill & I was having problems keeping food down (that were not due to my own stupidity), I'd be on the phone with my doc. I DO NOT want complications!! A) because complications would suck; but more importantly my surgery was self-pay & I don't have any more money for a corrective one! :heh: (Well, it's true! :straight) I've been pretty well controlled today -- "shake, shake, shake! Shake for Mommy!" as my 4-year-old sings while I make my Protein drinks! I did just (10PM) have some shredded-chicken BBQ. That's my 1st solid food & I wasn't supposed to start solids until 4 days/96 hours after the fill. It's only been 55 hours. Hopefully I don't regret that jump over mushies right to solids. Tomorrow will be an all-mushies day, I promise! Suzanne

Oh, Babygrl, you have got to be kidding me!!! :pound: I'm not out of bed one second earlier than the 1st kid is up!! DH works a 2nd job 4 nights a week, and I "wait up for him" but I'd be up anyhow until at least midnight. Night owls, the both of us. We're usually up until about 2am, so I do have plenty of time to do the working out bit at night... It's the actual starting it that I postpone & procrastinate about. And I can't imagine getting up earlier than to the 7am pitter patter of lil' feet! ROFLMAO It's a great suggestion, really, but I don't think I'd ever follow through with it! I tried the "shake on the treadmill while kids are eating breakfast" thing for a while, but something always was interrupting that workout. So I'm back to "after bedtime" treadmilling now...

Perhaps there is a clothing exchange thread already, but… I just came across some new 34W clothes. 2 pair of shorts, a couple pair of petite jeans & a couple that are not petite, and some ¾ sleeve button-up shirts. (It’s all conservative stuff, and the shirts would be fine for work either under a suit or left untucked in a more casual workplace.) All of this is tried on & some have been washed, but none of it was ever worn because I never quite grew out of my 32Ws enough to fit into the 34Ws that I'd just bought before having this surgery. And while it's all perfectly fine clothing that I could take in to be tailored, will I? Do I want to? Wouldn’t it be more fun to BUY SMALLER SIZES as I continue to need new clothes? Right. My thoughts exactly. :biggrin1: If someone’s in need of 34W, send me a PM & I can take pictures (but I doubt I’ll iron for ya!) or further describe what I’ve got. Suzanne

Well, Babygrl, you left the laughing bit out! Whew! (I'm the same way -- gotta look for the humor in the situation.) You can see I've gotten right on the chores. But in my defense, I've been having my Protein shake at the computer, before diving in to the mountain of stuff I've been putting off (which nobody else -ehem- has been doing either)... :help:Okay, I need a favor...:help: Somebody kick my a$$ if you notice I have not posted a workout by the time you go to bed!! I don't need to break them up, it's the STARTING not the finishing that is my problem (they're only a 1/2 hour & almost always at night). It's a matter of motivation. I've really got to make this a daily habit -- at least on the weekdays. I hate, hate, hate doing it - but that's not going to change overnight anyhow. I just need to stop whining & get to the friggin' treadmill!!!!!!!! I know this, but then I get distracted since I'd rather be doing anything else (except housework :eek:). So, please, before you guys shut down the computer at night - could somebody pop on & remind me to get my saggy, baggy elephant butt on the damn treadmill!?!?!?! I'd love to be at 250 by my 6-month Bandiversary, but I doubt that's going to happen. I know it's not going to happen. Poop. It was a realistic goal when I set it, but after a few weeks of not loosing, it no longer is a reasonable amount of weight loss (18lbs) before the date (in 40 days). That's 3 lbs a week, and I just haven't had those kinds of numbers on solid foods. It is realistic to shoot for being IN the 250's by then, so that's my new goal! But maybe if I workout every friggin' day of the next 40, I might hit the original mark of 250? Maybe? Okay, again - doubtful. But let me hold on to the dream. :biggrin1: And IF I'm working out every day toward a goal in August, perhaps I won't be so tempted to quite the daily sh..tuff once my deadline passes. Maybe it'll have become a habit by then...? Maybe. Or not --- wait, no negative thinking! See, it's just that I have never, ever enjoyed any form of exercise & I can't imagine liking it now. But it can't matter if I'm linking it, I've just got to DO IT!!! Perhaps if one of y'all give me a nudge, I'll actually pay attention! I'll employ a bit of this guilt-thing I'm so famous for & feel bad that you took your time to remind me, so I'll get up & do it just so i can post a "thanks for reminding me" when I'm done. (It's my Irish-Catholic/Jew upbringing -- guilt is ingrained. LOL) :biggrin1: Okay, now I'm feeling guilty about kicking my family out for the day & NOT doing the housework...my shake is long gone. :heh:

Ha!! Well, it helps ME feel human rather than freakish! Plus, I love sweets... And I usually CAN stop at 2 bites if I get rid of my plate right away. Leave a plate in front of me --no matter what's on it (besides veggies)-- and I'll pick at it until it's empty. Clean Your Plate mentality, an ingrained lesson I'm trying NOT to teach my own kids -- even though it seems like a good rule when picky, picky, picky 4yo DS isn't eating what he's served! It's "You don't have to eat, but I'm not making you another meal!" here. Go to bed hungry, m'boy, rather than grow up with THIS particular monkey on your back. What an evil mother I am...

Whaoo! :whoo: I missed this post, I guess! 4 POUNDS! :clap2: What a payoff for all your hard work! Great job!!! My fill is the tightest yet (well, obviously, but you kwim), and I'm hoping to really shed some weight this week!! I've got to cut out the junk, however! It's PMS-time, I believe, but that is no excuse for snacking on crap food! Refocusing now...

I agree - your entry seems fine. I don't eat red meat, but aren't spare ribs on the bone? Really, how much meat is there anyhow? :guess I can't do the fries (pesky potatoes), but the (turkey)burger-no bun is a regular meal item for me. And salad doesn't count -- it's totally ground up & mashed down if you really chew it!!! :biggrin1: You're doing well! No one looses weight on vacation, so make smart choices where you can with your gaol being not to GAIN. My vacation/holiday tip:ip:: only take 2 bites of dessert, and only if you're hungry!! None leaves you feeling deprived and ONE bite is never enough, but after two bites, you're just eating to eat it! (Of course it's only good advice if you take it - and sometimes I don't! ) Just remember - Protein first, then green veggies, then carbs (if you're allowed carbs at this point, which I am not). And have a great time!

OMG, Babygrl! :omg: Your day is off to one hell of a start! I'm glad you're okay -- over the handle bars is not a nice way to go! But that sucks about the bike! Man... And here I spent a half an hour lounging in bed with my hubby & kiddies -- all cozied up and dreamy! Now it's time to kick them out of the house & start on the chores myself... Such fun. But we have company coming next week & frankly :phanvan, I've let the housework slide since my surgery & it needs a major overhaul! :eek: Perhaps my affirmation for today will be: cleaned the house How's everyone else's Saturday going thus far.......? Suzanne Feb'07 July Challenge: Level 3-Moderate 3 of 20 days exercising for 30 minutes

I'll be honest... This surgery is not a quick-fix. It is slow-going and you have got to exercise! I'm 4-1/2 months post-op & down 52 pounds. That's right about where many of my fellow Feb Bandsters are at this point, but some are further and some have lost a lot less. So i think I'm pretty average in terms of progress. And FIFTY POUNDS sounds GREAT! It's 1/4 of what I want to loose, ideally. But, frankly, I was not happy with the way I looked when I was at 268 the last time...and I'm less happy with my appearance now since along with still being FAT, my hair is limp & falling out, my "pterodactyl wings" are flapping, my boobs have deflated like balloons, and my sagging gut has "done lapped" even further over my underwear than before!!! It isn't a pretty picture here. I feel like there's nothing I can eat except meatball & chili! I crave yeasty & quick breads, as well as JUICE!! And that is my reality. But I do have more energy than pre-op AND my astronomically high cholesterol is within normal ranges!!! :Becky: I'm off the metformin I was taking for PCOS & my cycles have returned (knock on wood). I feel better! And though it's going to take a very long while, I am loosing weight. The band is there when I fall off the wagon, catching me before I hit the ground! And a fill puts me right back on track. I think of my band as Jiminey Cricket -- singing "always let your conscience be your guide" when I get stuck or slime on something I didn't chew well enough or shouldn't have eaten in the 1st place. I have no regrets. But my dreams aren't coming true overnight either! And i still hate working out! :confused: I'm not saying any of this to scare you off -- the Band was the best thing I could have done for myself at this point. (Well, that and actually exercising in the 1st place.) But if you DO have high expectations & the reality differs...well, that is enough to send some Bandsters right to eating around the Band. And I wouldn't want that for you at all. The Lap-Band is a tool, not a quick-fix. Just remember that when it seems like you're trudging uphill through the snow...it's a tool, it's a tool... :biggrin1: Good luck to you with your Band!

Hi Elm65! :welcomeB: Two new Bandsters in as many day! Hot damn! And I did not have any pre-op diet at all, except to eat easy-to-digest foods the day prior to my surgery. I've already confessed my sins on the food Accountability thread, but I wanted to post my Frosty here too... Argh! Better than eating a slew of crap that could disturb today's fill, but not a pattern I want to have become regular! Two days in a row on the treadmill -- lets keep focused on that! Suzanne Feb'07 July Challenge: Level 3-Moderate 3 of 20 days exercising for 30 minutes

Well my day started out pretty good.... Breakfast: 25g-protein shake made with OJ lunch: 40g-protein drink dinner: 23g-protein drink-box And that's where it started to go down hill! I had 3 blobs of birthday decorative frosting before getting on the treadmill! And, knowing I was going to cave & eat bad-for-my-band stuff, I asked DH to bring home a Jr. Frosty! He got a small frosty & I've eaten half of it! Okay - clean slate. I'll start anew tomorrow...

My affirmation for today: I did NOT stop on the way home from my fill for the BK strawberry milkshake that was calling my name! Instead I went to the Vitamin Shoppe & got a cold drink box of Muscle Milk Light. Yea ME! I'm just about to jump on the treadmill, but I wanted to check in first! Hope all is well in our far reaches of the country! Suzanne Feb'07 July Challenge: Level 3-Moderate 2 of 20 days exercising for 30 minutes

In our house, the tooth fairy always left "coin dollars" -- be it the Susan B's of my childhood or the Sacagawea & Presidential dollar coins of today. We've been collecting them since my son was born for tooth fairy time!! Who knows how much other kids are getting, but mine are gonna continue to receive coin dollars. (My 4-1/2 yo had his 2 middle bottom teeth fall out a few months after a good bonk on the chin, so it has already begun here, too. How old is DD?)

I made a crock pot full of of turkey-chicken meatballs in marinara & that was my dinner, too. (I hate that the only think i can think to eat is meatballs!!! Argh!) I had mine topped with shredded cheese -- a very Band-friendly meal, if I do say so myself. And tomorrow I'll be on liquids again after my 4th fill...no solids for me until dinner on Sunday! Suzanne

That is GREAT, Carole!! :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: Wahoo!!!! Quite an affirmation! Sure wish my clothes were reflecting progress! I'm no longer growing out of a 32W, but I'm not shrinking out of a 28W yet either! I can't wait to be able to shop in TJ Maxx or Marshalls again... Just to go in there & know I'll be able to find something that will fit without breaking the bank -- Fat Lady clothes are expensive!! That's my goal for 6-months: discount shopping!!!!

Wait a minute! Here I thought you meant to say "15, 20, 30" not 12/15/20!! Or 15/20/25/30 even?? I mean, what happened to the EVERY DAY level?!? Is that not your goal this month, BabyGrl?!? Well, we still need a Level 4, too, for those who'd want to go for the full month! That, as yet, is NOT me, but I hope to be there one day...! I was so impressed by your dedication in June - even when it sucked in the rain & all!!!! I'm surprised to hear you plan to cut back by a full 10 days! Why, it's MY goal to do 20!! Surely you can beat out a SLUG like myself!!! :biggrin1: Suzanne Feb'07 July Challenge: Level ?-Moderate 1 of 20 days exercising for 30 minutes

Hi, Carole! :welcome: I love your Kool-Aid kid! Good to have you aboard! I thought of another good Protein powder I tried... Dymatize Elite Whey in "Butter Cream Toffee" (as well as their "chocolate Mint" that I mentioned before) is excellent. Both were delicious and, in both taste & texture when mixed with milk, went down like a melted, runny milk shake rather than like a protein drink! If you used ice & a blender I bet it would fool even the family! If you can stand the sweet stuff early in the day, or can drink your protein at night for dessert...both of these are safe bets. Hummm...now I've got myself thinking! I wonder if I could blend these up in an ice cream maker for protein-packed Desserts this summer?!? Suzanne Feb'07 July Challenge: Level 2-Intermediate 1 of 20 days exercising for 30 minutes

Damn it all -- I just at the last sliver of birthday cake! All day long I'm home with food, food, food & I do pretty well! But then my son does something requiring a time out & while he's in the hall for 4-1/2 minutes, I'm at the fridge! Argh! And today, the birthday cake was just too much for me! Tomorrow is my fill, and more to the point, my weigh-in!!!!! I know that piece of cake is gonna kick my butt form here to Alaska! Before the cake, all I'd had today was protein-packed juice for breakfast & lunch. I thought I was doing pretty good considering the BBQ that will be tonight's dinner... Why is it that one slice of cake can make me gain 3 lbs over night?!? :cool: Suzanne

That's what I miss most (besides yeasty & quick BREADS) -- JUICE!!! I thought it would be pizza & Pasta, but it's juice, punches & fruity sodas that I miss the most! I can rationalize the soda cravings away with the whole "carbonation is not good for the stoma" theory. But the "juice is mostly empty calories" bit doesn't have the same effect! I never much minded empty calories but for so long before, now did I?!? So I've reached a compromise with myself -- juice only if it is Splenda-rized or mixed with Protein powder. I feel like I already know you're not into coffee... But if you are, there are several nice (not gritty, not foamy) latte-like protein powders. I didn't keep track of them since I was looking to satisfy my juice cravings & had the coffee part down already, but I'm 99% sure that the latte-type protein from Syntrax (Matrix or nectar, I don't recall) was very nice... (For the record - I do not like actual COFFEE, but I love coffee ice cream, Frappuccinos, iced or hot cappuccinos & creamy-sugary variations there of!)

My DH is hard at work now, too, meaning I also don't get a holiday. AND there's no OT pay working for our county on any holiday. Falling on a Wednesday, it just feels like any other day here -- except that we're all dressed in red white & blue. Odd... BBQ & fireworks tonight though! :biggrin1: I hope you go to that concert, even if it's by yourself! You'll have a great time!!! Okay, so my affirmation for yesterday...I forgot to post it! We received in the mail a newsletter from the organization sponsoring the Fun Run/Walk!! And there -in print- was proof that I'd completed the mile!!! Granted my family members take the final ranking in each of our age categories, but the point is WE DID IT! I have not done a "mass" walk or run since 9th grade gym! I really felt good about myself for trying that day, and seeing it in the newsletter yesterday was a much needed reminder! I need to focus on what felt good about that accompaniment rather than on the effort of changing clothes & taking a 2nd shower that is involved in working out at home! I need to make a real plan and stick to it. While I can exercise when the kids are awake, it never fails that something interrupts my efforts. So ignoring the fact that I am "home all day" my real workout opportunities look like this: Sun/Mon/Tues are days with strength training opportunity (DH claims the treadmill at my usual time) and Wed/Thur/Fri/Sat are cardio opportune days (DH works evenings). Though it technically is a poorly planned workout schedual...if only I could just MAKE MYSELF get on either the treadmill or the gravity force trainer (yes, BodyByJake - we're infomercial junkies) after the kids are in bed...every single night!!!! It boggles my mind! Once the I've got them down & the silence finally ensues, the last thing i want to do is listen to a half hour of whirling thomps from the treadmill!!! And I just don't have a good routine down with the BodyByJake yet. But those are merely excuses! I need to suck it up and JUST DO IT!! Embrace my inner Nike. Or something like that. :cool: I don't know how y'all are making this happen...the daily workout sht...uff. But I want to be where you are!!

Okay...um...time for another fill! :hungry: We had Red Lobster for dinner tonight and I finished all SIX coconut shrimp (yum - my favorite), a few bites of mashed potatoes, & 1/2 a biscuit! :cool: Not good, not good! That is less than the 8 shrimp, 2 biscuits, full serving of potatoes & 1/2 a dessert I'd have had in my previous life, but still...!!! This weekend I was able to chug water, too (smaller gulps than pre-Band, obviously, but still chugs). Up till now, I'd been really satisfied with this 3rd fill & thought I'd gotten to a very nice place with my Band. But apparently not. Thankfully my next fill was already scheduled for July 5th!!! I guess those doctors of mine really do know what they're talking about, eh? :heh: :biggrin1: :usa2: :usa: :usa2: Happy 4th of July!! :usa2: :usa: :usa2:

Travel Girl --- 18!!!!!!!!!!! That's FANTASTIC!!! You GO!:cheer2:

I’ve got no need for “Oops” – when I’m consistent with my protein drinking, I need prunes!! And I am aspartame-sensitive, so I stick to Splenda stuff for the most part. Question: I’ve seen about protein this 25g max mentioned in threads quite a lot, but I have never come across anything about it outside of posts. Where did you hear it, TravelGirl? I make a blender-full of 3-scoops/75g-worth in the morning, keep it in the fridge, & drink from that all day. I’m not really concerned since I spread out my drink anyhow, just curious. I've always wanted to ask, but have not!

Because I bought gigantic tub of it, I am using Isopure Zero Carb vanilla - 25g per scoop. I like my Protein drink on the thin side, and the Isopure are not very thick, just milky. I mix mine with Water & General Foods International coffee powder (French Vanilla) for an Iced latte effect. I would not recommend their other powdered flavors though. And Isopure powders foam in the blender, meaning you’ve got more to drink down than a powder that doesn’t foam up. I’ve made quite the study of Protein Powder in my 4-1/2 months Banded. I am apparently very picky about my protein powders. The ones that I really like a lot are: Elite Whey:chocolate Mint– a thin drink that tastes just like green Mint Chip ice cream!! Yum-o! The best Protein Drink I've tried yet!!! 23g per scoop Syntrax nectar:Apple Ecstasy– a bright green “Kool-Aid consistency” drink that has a candy-like sweetness, not ‘sour apple’ but more like “Jolly Rancher apple” flavor. 23g per scoop Syntrax Nectar: Crystal Sky – a bright blue “Kool-Aid consistency” drink with candy-like sweetness, not a classic red ‘fruit punch’ flavor as it’s description led me to expect, but more of a “berry Blue” flavor. 23g per scoop If you are willing (calorically & carb-wise) to mix your powder with juice – and I will if it is one of the new Lite OJ’s made with Splenda & tons of other chemicals (argh!), then I also like: Syntrax-Matrix 5.0:Orange Cream – milky, but mixes smooth without foaming, tastes like an Orange Julius when made with OJ instead of water. 23g per scoop SciTech-IsoFruit Delite: pineapple – thin, “cranberry juice” consistency, great mixed with OJ or real pineapple juice (or both!) instead of water. It would also probably be good to cook or bake with in place of pineapple juice...and in a Pina-Colada. I have not tried finding other uses for my protein, but other people do stuff like that! 21g per scoop You can buy sample-sizes of TONS of protein powders at WLSSupplies.com - For all your WLS supplement needs – that’s where I got mine to experiment with. The shipping takes forever, so don’t place your order with only a few days of your own powder left! They come dosed out in these mini milk bottles, not envelopes, which I found handy for pouring in the mixing liquid & shaking to determine if a blender would be needed for thorough blending or not. To me, it was worth the premium for samples rather than waist another $95 on retail-sized tubs of protein that just doesn’t taste good! Good luck – and if you find something really good, report back! :biggrin1:

Well, I did have cake & a bit of ice cream (as planned) at DD's 2nd birthday party , but the rest of my meal on Sunday was totally within my regular diet-plan. So there's my affirmation for July 1st: stuck to the eating gameplan a the party. :biggrin1: July 2nd wasn't bad either... I ate appropriately at a pool party ~AND~ I took my kids in for a swim (suit and all) in front of fit, tanned near-strangers! Yea, me!! While in the pool, I did an on & off “workout” with my *sniff, deep breath* two-year-old. *sigh* (My DS starts preschool this fall – I am not coping well with their growing-up!!!!!:cry) So the month is off to a good start. I still have a BBQ on the 4th :usa2:to get through, and then 2 weeks of family reunions (my own & DH’s), plus a weeklong visit from my best friend & her kids. This will be my toughest month in terms of “events” since the Banding. But I am determined!! :boxing: My next fill is on Thursday, the 5th. I doubt I’ll need much, but I can chug Water again, so it does need to be tweaked. I can’t tell you how good it felt to have semi-gulps of coldness rushing down my throat after a day spent splashing around outside... I was a big-time gulper in my previous life! Of course, that was of icy cold Mt. Dew/Code Red & Root Beer not diet lemonade & water!! The fill will do me good with all the “out of my control” eating ahead this month... Thank goodness for the Band, because I can only imagine how much weight I would have gained this July without it!! Suzanne Feb'07 July Challenge: Level 2-Intermediate 1 of 20 days exercising for 30 minutes