Woodys

I am 54 and married to professional chef. I always battled a few extra pounds but in 99 we moved north and opened our own restaurant in cottage/tourist country. My husband always worked outside the home so his excellent cooking was never that much of a problem. But since 99 we live and work in the same building so I am around his food 24/7. I sell it, serve it, clean up after it and sometimes help with prep. Even our apartment above the restaurant stores restaurant inventory in the fridge and freezer....just can't get away from it Our winters are very quiet...the restaurant is open but not so busy,so we have a lot of time on our hands.....this is a big obstacle for me. So, over the past 7 years I have gained........lost........gained.......lost....several times....I started out at 125 in 99 when I arrived in Fenelon Falls.....I was 218 on a 5' frame when I was banded June 8th. (I was self pay) I just got tired....I couldn't do it anymore. I'm really good at taking it off but I just can't keep it off...that's why I wanted the band...it will help me keep it off. I hated stairs, I would avoid social engagements especially if it involved people I haven't seen in a while. I couldn't take the embarassment. My health was failing dramatically, the Dr said my body was suffering from the yo-yo dieting and I needed to do something about it. I was once a very confident corporate woman.....before the decision to be banded I didn't know who I was anymore....but I knew who I wanted to be. It has only been more than a month for me since being banded but just knowing that I own it makes me feel so positive, so confident again. I would do this again in a second. Carol

My Dr.requested a pre-op diet of low fat cottage cheese, low fat yogurt, Jello and posicles for two weeks prior to the procedure. It was explained to me that it was to help reduce the amount of fat that surrounds the liver and stomach (not to shrink the liver) in order to make the procedure easier. The smaller the amount of fat that needs to be moved out of the way to operate, the safer and easier the procedure. Carol

Maybe you need to study what you are able to consume. You would be surprised how the calories add up in the smallest amount of the wrong food or liquids. Carol

I completely agree with Boo....Boo has said everything that I was going to say. There are resources out there that you can tap into. No one can handle all of this on their own. You need to seek them out....start with a local minister or the Salvation Army.....if they can't help they will be able to put you in the right direction and will have resource information for you.....and they are usually ready and prepared to speak with you now...and they won't charge you an arm and a leg for it either. There is NOTHING wrong with asking for help and accepting it....if you don't you and your family will suffer....so find the help and welcome it. I think you said in your message that you have a needy m-i-l.....why do you have to succumb to her needs....why can't she look after herself...and if she can't, why is her needs your responsiblility? You need to take care of your needs first...to heck with hers. Keep us posted....believe me, I've been where you are at....it does get better. But first.....FIND HELP....and get some of those monkeys off your back! Carol

I have lost 4 lbs so far......still working at it. Carol

Jane...I agree with you.....however, two points I made perfectly clear in my original post was that she ate was I served her with absolutely no fuss or resistance and enjoyed it.....she didn't even fuss when I took the order and she knew she wasn't getting fries. The second point....she said twice that she was full but the Father insisted that she have the ice cream....there is something definately wrong there. Carol

Joyce: I see this "in your face" constant publication on the topic of obesity in a very different way. I believe that public awareness is so necessary to bring it home for some obese....they need to know the consequences of obesity and if this is the way to do it then I'm all for it. I don't see it as poking fun or insulting the obese at all.....I see it as waving the red flag in hopes that the obese will consider the consequences of their state of body. Carol

Denial...as a big person that is one of the things that helped me get even bigger. I use to see this happen to big people all the time, they couldn't fit into restaurant chairs, couldn't squeeze into the seats on the subway, busses, planes, amusement park rides.....and I always use to say to myself...."that will never happen to me, thank goodness I'm not that big yet".....that attitude helped get me right to the point where I became one of those people....scary. Good news is.....we are all on our way to being among those who fit anywhere! Carol

I haven't been banded long enough to give you an experienced opinion. However, I could tell you what I will do when I reach that point...and I'm sure I will because I obsessed about food preband. First, if I'm tempted by food at home such as "doggie bags"....then I just won't bring doggie bags home anymore. I think it would be best for me just to wipe this obstacle out of my life. Secondly, if I'm not hungry I will force myself not to eat "just because" I'm thinking about eating. I have to admit....that this will be easier said than done....but it is definately the route I'll take. Carol

I'm all for it.....will be starting solids in 1-1/2 weeks so this will help me keep control and not get too eager. At 184 right now, would love to be at 173 by that date. Good luck everyone! Carol

Mr. Yo.....you have your whole life ahead of you with the band....only good can come from that....so, what's a short few weeks on a special diet. I had to go on a yogurt and cottage cheese fast for two weeks pre-op. It was difficult, but you will be surprised how fast those few weeks go by. Isn't every thing you want / expect from having the band worth it? Suck it up and stick with it! Carol

Buffie: I know its boring and just like all of us you will get impatient. But stick with what the Dr. set out for you...they have their reasons for the way they designed the post op treatment. Simple science says that if you expend more energy than your body requires i.e...cutting your calorie intake and exercising, then you will lose weight. If the scale isn't moving much right now, it will eventually. In relation to your entire life ahead of you...the next few weeks should be regarded as insignificant...look at the big picture instead of just a few "post-op" diet weeks. I had a rough time too because it was soup, soup, soup......but I thought about the entire journey I was embarking on.....and I was rellishing in anything I was losing because at least the scale was moving in the right direction. Good Luck Carol

Definately carbs for me too. I only ate 2 meals a day but they were very big ones. One of my favourites was to get a family size of fries from the local fish and chips store....pile all kinds of goo on top....gravy, ketchup, etc.....then I'd eat the entire thing...all in one sitting. Now, I can't even imagine doing that again.....I can't even believe that I did this, and on a regular basis too. Carol

Hi Buffie: Try to eat food you make yourself. The first 2 weeks I was eating just my husbands Soups and fresh squeezed juices. I was losing an average of .8 pound a day. Then, the third week I started to get a bit bored and was buying commercial soups and drinking clamato. It was all very salty. The quantity I was consuming was no different. I ended up gaining 1 lb and then the scale stayed there for 3 days until I figured it out....once I went back on my husband's home made soups I started dropping again. I would be careful of high sodium foods....it sure has a negative effect on me. Carol

I didn't keep track, I was just watching it with the smoothies because they can be approx 200 each and I would have them early in the day, I didn't want to overdo it in case I wanted to have a creamed soup for dinner. I was told by Kathy at TLBC that we could have as much as we wanted on any of the liquid diets as long as we took 1/4 cup at a time and took it slow, and we could keep doing this until we were satisfied. Carol

I suppose you can, I was trying to keep the calories down. Just make sure it well blended and thined out a bit with the ice. Carol

Hi Buffie: I made smoothies.....they taste just like liquid cheesecake. 1/2 cup low fat plain yogurt 1/2 cup low fat cottage cheese 1 cup ice 1 - 2 packages of sweetner Flavourings: 2 tbs of unsweetened cocoa power - or - 1 teaspoon (or to taste) real vanilla -or- 2 tbs of sugar free jam or whatever you like Blend in a blender until very smooth They are yummy. Carol

I did one week clear fluids, 2 weeks full fluids, 2 weeks pureed...then onto solids. I'm on my first week or pureed. I didn't find it too bad, got tired of Soup but for those who have more of an imagination, I'm sure they did better. It is important that you follow what your Dr. instructs.....do not judge what you should be doing by what everyone else says....there is a reason for what you Dr. instructs and its best if you follow it. Carol

Atta boy Saul!!!!!!!!!!!!!:clap2: Carol

I'm just wondering how Saul's wife is going to feel when she finds out that she no longer appeals to him because she isn't 90 lbs any longer, and that his eye is wandering to other females.......I bet she'd feel like "she's not good enough anymore"....that's how most women feel when their men behave like this. What a pity! Carol

Week one done with the preop fast........yesterday the dog wouldn't come near me, must have been afraid..........I'm so hungry guess I was looking at him kinda strange like he was dinner or something. I'm so sick of yogurt and cottage cheese, don't even like cottage cheese. Hubby makes lots of smoothies for me with different yummy flavours but now I'm so sick of it that I'm not eating enough....yesterday I got the weak kneed feeling. Oh well, one more week to go. Carol

I don't think it was deliberate, dessert usually follows dinner. Would any other choice be less tempting?....and how is she to know what that choice would be? My husband is a professional chef and he cooks for us just like he cooks for our customers. When I was banded I asked him to please not change his habits because I will have to get use to, why should he suffer anyway, I have the band, not him. It is helping me tremendously, I'm learning that I can do what I need to do and that I'm very strong when it comes to resisting temptation.....shows me that I'll make it! I'm afraid that this is something you will have to adjust to. I think it is unfair to expect that every situation will revolve around you having the band. The band is just a tool, the entire venture includes a lifestyle change. You can do it, just like me. Good Luck. Carol

Congrats!!!!!!! btw.....what does NSV mean? Carol

In that case Saul, I would say that your marriage has always been in trouble....if you truly loved your wife, it would not mean a hill of Beans except simple flattery that some women may be exchanging looks with you. And so what if she isn't the petite little ballerina that you married...big f***** deal, are you the same man she married? All I can say is......Shame on you! Carol

Why is your eye wandering Saul.....she was good enough for you before you were banded. She stuck with you when you grew bigger. Carol