Gregnlr

Thanks Big As Life and Band_Groupie, it is a mindset and a habit that we spend years building, I guess I should not expect to be out of that cycle in 4 months. But I am back to normal now, walking working and protein shakes.

Well it was the 4th of July weekend. On Friday I took a nephew to see Transformers, did good had water while he sat there eating his popcorn. After the movies he wanted to go to Maggie Moo's and ice cream shop right outside the movie. Cool we went in and he ordered, and before I knew it I ordered one scoop of dark chocolate ice cream. It really was not as good as I had imagined, not saying the ice cream was not good, I am sure it was great, just one of those self expectation that did not live up to the expectation. Wish I had stuck to my meal plan, notice I did not say diet, I don't diet anymore. Then later that night, it was a BBQ and a home made lemon maraign pie. The BBQ went down fine, I guess I had about a half cup. The pie I took home and over the weekend I consumed about a quarter of the pie. Not good, since I am going to Vegas this month and wanted to be down another 15 pounds. For Sunday I had bought a steak, decided I was not hungry Sunday, remember I had eaten pie. So I cooked to tonight. I ate maybe two bites and stuck tighter than you can imagine. I slimed and PB'ed for over an hour, just plain nasty. I swore this is the last steak I will buy...anyway, I don't feel like I failed, just feel like I could have done better.

It has been too hot to walk like I was walking and it has slowed down my weight loss.I really need to be down another 15 pounds by the last week of July for my Vegas trip, self imposed goal. Anyway I will continue on and I am not discouraged, I know it will continue to come off if I don't cheat and work my band like my company works me (not a complaint, glad to have a job). The 4th of July will be different, instead of me grilling, drinking and eating. I will be chill-in. I did buy a brisket for a friend to cook for me, don't know if I can eat it, but will give it a try. Chopped up in the food processor a quarter cup at a time. I have just now begun to get a little solid food down since my tragic chicken episode last week. I also bought another chicken today, took it off the bone and chopped it to shreds, then shredded it with a fork. Maybe and just maybe I will be able to eat some of it. No worries if I don't eat no big deal. I also think my lack of food has stalled my weight loss. Happy 4th of July to everyone.

It has been too hot to walk like I was walking and it has slowed down my weight loss.I really need to be down another 15 pounds by the last week of July for my Vegas trip, self imposed goal. Anyway I will continue on and I am not discouraged, I know it will continue to come off if I don't cheat and work my band like my company works me (not a complaint, glad to have a job). The 4th of July will be different, instead of me grilling, drinking and eating. I will be chill-in. I did buy a brisket for a friend to cook for me, don't know if I can eat it, but will give it a try. Chopped up in the food processor a quarter cup at a time. I have just now begun to get a little solid food down since my tragic chicken episode last week. I also bought another chicken today, took it off the bone and chopped it to shreds, then shredded it with a fork. Maybe and just maybe I will be able to eat some of it. No worries if I don't eat no big deal. I also think my lack of food has stalled my weight loss. Happy 4th of July to everyone.

When I say the chicken was stuck it was stuck and it has taken me 4 days to recover. I am back to drinking protein shakes and eating chili and soups, I have not tried any solid food at this point, too scared. Not scared of the food, but scared that I will have to have an un-fill not that I feel I am at the perfect place after only two fills. You can't imagine that so little can really be so much in your band. I now know why doctors give very small fills, especially if they don't use the fluoroscope. I did buy a new protein drink at Walmart this morning Muscle Milk light, has anyone tried it? If you read my blog thanks, please do not get scared with one entry, if you read more you will know I LOVE my LB and there is nothing to be scared of, but some of it you learn trial and error.

When I say the chicken was stuck it was stuck and it has taken me 4 days to recover. I am back to drinking protein shakes and eating chili and soups, I have not tried any solid food at this point, too scared. Not scared of the food, but scared that I will have to have an un-fill not that I feel I am at the perfect place after only two fills. You can't imagine that so little can really be so much in your band. I now know why doctors give very small fills, especially if they don't use the fluoroscope. I did buy a new protein drink at Walmart this morning Muscle Milk light, has anyone tried it? If you read my blog thanks, please do not get scared with one entry, if you read more you will know I LOVE my LB and there is nothing to be scared of, but some of it you learn trial and error.

Thanks for the encouragement

OK, I have really been struggling since my last fill. On Tuesday I tried to eat some chicken and it got stuck, by Wednesday I could barely get water down. Yesterday I was able to drink some water and a little broth. I spoke with my Dr. and he offered to do a un-fill. But I am going to hold out for now, as long as I can get water and broth I am good. I hope it will loosen up in a few day, may have some swelling due to being stuck. I was at a good spot and don't want to regress. The good news is I am now down 70 pounds in 3.5 months. Keeping the faith...

Bernadette, when you find that sweet spot you will know it and hopefully it will be soon. I am only half way to my stretch goal so I still have a ways to go and you know men lose different than women so don't be hard on yourself. The fact that your on here encouraging everyone shows you have the dedication it takes to be successful. Hope you enjoy your hometown BBQ.

Waylayer you can expect to have those type of fluctuations up 5 pounds is no big deal and you have not failed you have all ready succeeded. Make sure you are getting around 1000 calories and if you think you might be eating too much, you probably are. Track you food, I use the daily plate. Only then will you understand what works and does not work for you. Work the band, don't work around the band. Best to you..

Coach, it looks like you continue to do awesome. I understand on the groceries, I save about $400 a month, the LB pays so get your kids the pool and I bet as thin as you and your wife will be you will enjoy it as much as they will. Treat yourself, you deserve it.

How all are well. I have struggled since my last fill and have had some swelling after getting stuck. Wednesday I could barely get water down, yesterday water and broth, today I hope I can get some protein. I have talked with my doctor and he offered to un-fill but for now I am good. I am down 70 pounds, so that part is great.

OK, I have really been struggling since my last fill. On Tuesday I tried to eat some chicken and it got stuck, by Wednesday I could barely get water down. Yesterday I was able to drink some water and a little broth. I spoke with my Dr. and he offered to do a un-fill. But I am going to hold out for now, as long as I can get water and broth I am good. I hope it will loosen up in a few day, may have some swelling due to being stuck. I was at a good spot and don't want to regress. The good news is I am now down 70 pounds in 3.5 months. Keeping the faith...

OMG I thought I was going to die. A little background first, I love chicken, I ate chicken almost daily before the LB. Well I am 3 months post OP and have had a second fill that has me very tight, now your caught up. So yesterday I go to Sam's and buy a rotisserie chicken, like a have done a few hundred times before pre-LB. I got it home and took it off the bone and in the fridge it went. I am thinking I can eat this, the ground turkey is getting old and I needed something new. Now the gross part. I am setting at lunch today have a very small plate of chicken approx 3 ounces and I take a bite chew very well and a nice change from the ground turkey. I few more very small bites go by and then it happens. I get stuck, it is so painful and just down right nasty. I stand at the sink for at least 30 minutes foaming at the mouth, coughing up nasty and every time I think I am done, I am not. I chew papaya enzyme pills trying to get unstuck while I am in pain. At one point I thought what am I going to do. It just keeps on....then one last painful puke and it's gone. Boy did that suck. I thought I was past this..... I was so tired afterward I layed down for a while. Now the good news, when I got up I had a brainstorm as opposed to the brain farts I usually have. I wanted ice cream, so I broke out my ice cream maker and turned my chocolate protein shake into ice cream by adding a little splenda and some sugar free Hershey's chocolate sauce to my protein shake milk and soy milk. It was great, I don't have to feel left out.. I can live with my LB. Oh the chicken was finely copped and added to chicken broth, orzo, corn and pea dish that I had no trouble getting down at dinner. I should also note that I did not walk this weekend it was just too hot, it's time to Wii.

Thanks for the tip I will give the turkey tenderlion a try.

I love my protein shakes, I use Chike. To me they are a treat and when I add my fruit even better. Some doctors don't want you on them after surgery. Mine encourages them while your losing weight. Go with what your doctor advised.

I had my first follow-up visit yesterday all went well. Signed up for a Vemma Program it is super shot supplement drink, my doctor suggested it. I had lost another 1.5lbs since Thursday. I still have no hunger and only eat one meal a day with two protein shakes. Life is good. Oh, my scars are looking great , been doing the Maderma. I discussed my belching, the doc said I am an air swallower and since the conversation, I have caught myself doing just that. I will try to break that habit. Also I discussed my lack of energy and exercise with him. He told me I was still healing and not to worry about it at this point. I go back in 3 months unless I begin to get hungry. He thinks I may be one of those who won't need a fill, or at least not much as he explained one of his patients has lost 111 pounds in 6 months with no fills. I should add he put in some fill when he does the surgery and if I eat anything close to a cup I get a very bad feeling.I still have about a week and a half before going back to work and am glad to have the time off, I am amazed of the ones who go right back to work. You are better than I, guess some don't have a choice. But my advice to anyone having the LB, if you can take some time, please do. I know I also had hernia surgery but still I have needed this time. On a brighter note, I bought a new kitchen canister to put my shake mix in and have all my supplements lined up in the spice cabinet. So what I am saying is I have Incorporated LB into my life. Also I still refuse to let anyone make changes to their life because of my LB, I carry enough guilt without having that to shoulder. So eat what you want, invite me to dinner, or a party. I can cope, this is all about me so don't try to make it about you. :thumbdown: I will be giving you my fat clothes on the way to a better me. If you read my blog, please leave a comment, so I know this is helping someone other than myself. Even though if no one reads it I am ok, since this is about me:thumbup:

You know Iam doing the two shakes a day plus the Lean Cuisine, or fish, or turkey. Anyway I bought a Magic Bullet, ya like the ones you see on TV. It is like a mini blender, but has two separate blanes and more than 4 cups. So here is what is cool, I can but my 10 ounces of Silk Light Vanilla Soy Milk, with my Vanilla Chike (protein supplement) and a few Blueberry's and about 10 ounces of water and I have a great shake, you would never know it is diet food, this summer I can add ice instead of water and make a smoothie. Anyway I worked in the Yard the past two days, maybe a little too much, sore back. But I feel great, look great and losing weight. What more can a man ask for (don't answer that).

The Magic Bullet is my most used kitchen tool. I mix all my shakes in them. If you are doing shakes as part of your diet, get one, they are at Walmart and are great.

the second reason I would not do popcorn, is because that is not protein and it would be empty calories. You either work the band for results,meaning you eat good food and are successful at your weight loss. Or you work around the band, seeing what you can eat even though it is not a good food choice. My cheating is having an extra protein shake as opposed to some who drink milkshakes.

Just more of my rants, I turn 52 later this month and by the way I don't look a day over 42 (you will just have to trust me, no pictures). Anyway the other half and I always go to dinner (usually Doe's Eat Place) and a movie for my birthday and I buy myself something nice. The dilemma is if I go to Doe's it won't be the same since I can't order a 5lb Porterhouse and the movie, I have already done that no coke and popcorn just a nice bottle of water. So how do I celebrate my new life, which trust me is better than the old one and I might actually live to the next birthday. My favorite thing to do now is work in the yard and walk... I am open to suggestions.

You should not drink carbonated drinks with the LB. I know some people who do, I drank 12 diet cokes a day prior to LB, I reduced one every 15 days till I was off of them prior to surgery. I don't miss them at all. I would not even attempt popcorn for two reasons, one it might get stuck, and the only place I ate popcorn was at the movies. So there would be nothing worst than missing a movie while I am in the public restroom hacking it back up. Not appealing to me at least.

Cool, I am a workforce project manager for AT&T. I was a supervisor in a call center s I know what your talking about.

I have not posted in almost a week, but that is a good thing. I have been so busy. I am walking 2 miles at lunch and 5 miles each day on the weekend. I took a 5 pound weight to work and now do a routine while I am on those long calls. I also took an exercise band to work and have a routine for that as well. After work it is straight to the next project, I am getting so much done. I had a garage sale over th weekend and yard work and it just keeps getting better. The task I use to dread, I can do at a run. On Sunday I was at the park walking 5 miles at 6am, then did my shopping on the way home and came straight home to mow the yard. I could have never done that before I had the LB. I went to the Bonefish Grill on Saturday night and did not feel like people were watching to see how much I ate, then took most my meal home. I am on a routine on what I eat daily since food no longer consumes me, the same thing each day because I have placed so little importance on it. I still have a ways to go, or quiet a ways to go, but you can't believe how much better I feel. When I think about cheating, I just look in the mirror or get on the scales. When people look at me now it is not because I am so fat but because I am beginning to look good. Another point I should make is find a support group and go, Group keeps you encouraged. The support I have found on here is also great, fabby50 Bernadette is always there for my support. Try to do the same for others...

Yes, it all depends on how tight you are depending on your fills. I am very tight, by my request, on my second fill. Some people take several fills to get to their "sweet spot" I wanted to get there quickly as possible since my doctor covered the first 3 fills as long as they were in the first 90 days. I simply chopped my chicken very fine and added it to a orzo pasta dish which goes down just fine. Everyone is different so what I can eat you may not be able to, it is trial and error.