stateofzen

I drink wine and gimlets (gin with a dash of Rose's lime). Just pay attention to the calories/carbonation in the mixers with mixed drinks but you can usually find something.

It could help if it helps him to resolve issues that require medication that interfere with sexual functioning (including the bp, the PTSD, and the depression meds). If it's diabetes or prostate disease related, surgery might not do as much. Hard to say, but it's certainly not going to hurt his erectile function.

I'm experiencing it right now. I was perfect for 7 months, losing steadily with 2.5 cc's in my 10 cc band, and for the last month I've suddenly been hungry non-stop and stalled at 180. I go in for my third fill this week-- I'm hoping it will get me back on track.

I believe the coffee is for "no caffeine" reasons-- and I ignore that. I've read the caffeine research and I remain unconvinced that there is even a reasonable amount of evidence that it's a problem to drink 2 cups of coffee's worth of caffeine a day. Soda is for the "no carbonation" rule, which I do follow. Plus, I find that drinking even diet soda, since it is so sweet, increases my cravings for other sweet things (I found this out pre-band). Not to mention the gas-- I've found that drinking anything carbonated (I've had a sip of tonic Water and a sip of soda) or even drinking something non-carbonated through a straw makes me uncomfortable and burpy so I avoid it. I'm not sure about the lettuce thing-- my doc never mentioned it. I do know some people get stuck on it but I eat salads regularly and have no issues.

Plastic surgery! Man, I never thought I'd be someone who got plastic surgery, but I so am

I would say I average a cup of food per meal. Well, maybe not Breakfast (I have a Protein bar) but definitely lunch and usually dinner. I can't stand this 1/2 cup and no snacking nonsense from docs. It's no wonder so many people over-fill to the point of constant PB'ing and reflux when they're trying to stay satisfied for 4-5 hours on a 1/2 cup of food. I'm not knocking what works for other people, but I tell you what, I have lost over 100 lbs in 8 months eating well over 1/2 cup of food, with no real exercise. I've also never vomited, PB'ed or slimed.

When someone is overweight, I do feel a little bad. But then again-- ultimately, I have to take care of myself and my own needs. It's not like WLS is a complete unknown to fat people in this day and age-- I managed to figure it out without anyone in my life (that I know of) having done it.

My family knows, and my 2 closest friends know, but other than that I have chosen not to tell people. Frankly, I just don't think my weight is anyone else's business. I felt that way when I was fat, and I feel that way now. I neither want to be scrutinized or gossiped about because of my surgery/weight, nor do I want to be anyone's poster-child for WLS. I just absolutely don't need the pressure of measuring up to anyone's expectations but my own.

I was going to be a smartass and suggest drinking coffee (that's how I get rid of caffeine headaches), but I realize that would just be cruel It seems like you have two options-- just white knuckle through the next week or so and they should go away, or wean more slowly in the morning-- do half-caf, then quarter caf, then no caf in your coffee in a gradual decline over a couple of weeks.

If you aren't seeing a counselor, now seems like a good time to start! If you're dealing with some self-esteem and self-doubt issues that are leading you to binge, then a therapist might be able to help you process these feelings and come to terms with them without having to resort to slider foods. It is my firm belief that everyone in this world could benefit from seeing a therapist once in awhile. You certainly don't need to be seriously mentally ill for it to be helpful

I still have that happen on occasion. It IS embarrassing, but it becomes much more infrequent the further you get out of surgery.

I am back in a 8.5 after wearing 9 for the last 10 years. Of course my feet are two different sizes-- my right is bigger than the left (actually , true of my thighs and my boobs too-- I am really lopsided toward the right side, lol!). I have bought so many new pairs of cute shoes that I hope my size doesn't keep going down. I don't think it will-- I wore an 8.5 through high school.

Yay for you! Just remember-- you will make it through the hard times ahead.

I LOVE the Zone Perfect Cinnamon Roll bar. It could be better with protein-- it only has 13g. But man, it tastes awesome. I eat one for Breakfast almost every day.

I remember that feeling! It sucks. But, I can promise you, those 6 months will FLY by. Try to use it as a time to really mentally dedicate yourself to the battle of weight loss and band-eating. Even with the band, a good portion of what makes you successful or not is the mental dedication, and yes, will power. I used the 6 month + time to really get myself in the mental zone.

Weighed 182.8 today, so down 1 lb.

I can eat everything. I choose to limit my carbs, so I bypass the bread, etc. for the most part (when I'm doing my part of things, that is-- sometimes I fall off the wagon). If I were to go there, I'd look at grilled/non-breaded fish or chicken, Soups, and salads. Thankfully I can eat salad-- I love them and they are filling to me.

If you test to your band to see what you can get away with, you're going to find yourself "winning" a lot But in the end, that's not a game you want to win, right? It sounds like once you're healed and can eat solid food again that your band may be working-- giving you a feeling of satiation after only a little food. But for a lot of us (me included) the band did never and will never stop you from eating anything. Your job= choosing what to eat and listening to the band Band's job= giving you a sense of "not hungry" after a relatively small amount of food That's it. Good luck to you! I know it's hard to figure out with every other person, and every other doctor, saying something different.

Many insurance companies do accept dated photos. Just keep appealing and get your doctors to help. It is assinine to believe that someone was obese in 2004, 2007, and 2010 but not in between 2007 and 2010. It's not like you're on the border of obesity. You should have a strong case of appeal with pictures and the emergency room data.

I drink wine fairly regularly and also have the occasional non-carbonated mixed drink.

That is frustrating. I can't tell you how many times doctors have defaulted to my weight to explain unexplained symptoms, without any evidence that weight was in any way related. It's like this lazy default, and obesity is so demonized, that it's an easy scapegoat that allows the medical field not to worry about doing some hard work to figure it out. It's really easy to tell someone they're at fault, to just lose weight and all of their problems will go away. I wonder what they do when all of those sick thin people come in.

Banded almost 8 months, never stuck, never PB'd, slimed or vomitted (and I hope to God I never will). I am at 2.5cc's in a 10 cc band so I have enough fill to give me hunger satiation but not enough to physically restrict what I can eat-- I think this makes a difference, at least in my body.

The fill level should remain constant. It doesn't evaporate and unless you have a leak, it shouldn't disappear.

Huh, well, it may be hormone fluctuations. It is probably worth mentioning to your PCP for bloodwork, just to make sure all of your Vitamins are in the right place. The reason I asked about sleep was because some of what you mentioned *could* describe hypomania which is a symptom of bipolar. If that runs in your family, then you also might talk to your doctor about that. Weight loss does weird things to us, that's for sure! Since I've been losing weight I get horrible splitting headaches the first couple of days of my period-- something I never experienced before.

I'm still chugging along, though things are slowing down for me a bit-- no surprise there. I do need to work on my food choices a bit though. Getting busy at the end of a semester means lots more convenience foods than thoughtful, healthy meals, and that's obviously not a path I want to stay on. Lisa and SDG: I'm so glad you're pushing through the stalls. That always feels great!