Nathalie

Denise882 - I was on liquids for 3 weeks after surgery - I feel your pain! I called my surgeon and they recommended Milk of Magnesia. I used the Cherry Cream kind, and it worked a true blue miracle. Check with your doctor though. Also, my surgeon recommended that I get some of the Metameucil that you stir into Water and drink. It seems that the post bariatric diets are not as high in fiber, so we may get plugged up rather frequently. Nathalie

Sorry for that longazz post... and I got the nerve to post another one (laugh) -- But I just read this and thought it was kind of helpful. Does anyone else use Isopure? http://www.a1nutritionproducts.com/isopure_and_bariatric_surgery.asp Nat

Hi Myrna - This is by no means to replace the other December Bandsters forum. We still go there and post. But there was a smaller group who bonded early on in December, and we thought it would be nice to have a place where we can keep in touch easier. The other forum moves so FAST now! Please join us if you'd like, and if not we'll catch ya in DB! So my pants, ladies, are still about 5 pounds too tight. My friggin port incision is singing. I haven't even had all that much to drink/eat today either. I'll be retiring these pants as ***SOON*** as I walk in the door. Plus they keep riding up into floodwater pants. *HA!* By next week it'll be all good. Does anyone drink Protein drinks? I went to GNC at lunch to buy some of those Stallone Protein puddings. I also bought some Muscle Milk and some Isopure zero carb Protein Drinks. The ISOPURE is 40g protein, 0 fat, 0 carbs, 0 sugars, 55mg Calcium, 80mg sodium and 45mg potassium. Oh, and only 160 calories for some of them. Others are 260. The only downside was the cost: $3.75. If I can find it cheaper, I will. It tasted good, and it wasn't even cold. PLUS it contributes toward my Fluid intake, doesn't it? http://www.a1nutritionproducts.com/buy/natures_best/zero_carb_isopure_drink?gclid=COjvgc6EyokCFSMkWAodkA7gfg KayDoll - work it out, girlfriend! I feel too fat to join a gym. I want a real gym membership, not a Curves type place. But I don't want to be there with a bunch of hard bodies. Do you do any weight lifting at all? I used to do Body For Life; I still have my little weight lifting journal. Yup, I'm going back to it at about... 230. Far as I'm concerned, that's next month. mystique - what is your goal weight? My surgeon set my goal weight at 170, but I'd love to hit 155. Now, that may be unrealistic at 38, but I don't know. My PCP told me I should be 140 (he's obviously smoking crack). I'm 5'8". Did you figure out how to add the ticker so that it automatically appears? Go here: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/get-ticker-your-t16218.html That's what taught me how to do it. I love the talk about your "bits." Very British (to my ear). Kirsten - If you get some of those 20-22's from the chick in Colorado and find that you can't use 'em all *ahem* think of a sista, will you? As for the elliptical, if you spend enough, you can buy one with a higher weight limit. Remember you get what you pay for, so the lower end ones won't pedal (?) as smoothly as some of the others, or may not be as stable. Mine was totally an investment. I used my downpayment for a new car on it, thinking my old car ain't so bad, and my ass... *sigh* is much too big. Has anyone considered shopping at Good Will or Salvation Army for clothes while we're transitioning? Because I can't afford to go out and buy new clothes every month. The clothes swap is a great idea, but if it doesn't pan out, I need a Plan B. sweethot - how goes the eating today? Was it any easier for you trying to plan out meals? I try to make sure that everything I eat has some protein in it. That may or may not help you, but I feel like it helps me a great deal. I am taking my surgeon's advice to get 60 - 80g protein per day very seriously. Did that pain go away? Did it hurt more when you breathe deeply? Poor lamb. I hope you're better. dawnae - you made me laugh a few times. I'm not doing it this time, but I have had food dreams before. More like chocolate fantasies and Twinkie day terrors. LOL @ the Homer Simpson dream. cracked me up. I was *not* laughing at the potty training parts though. I am totally stressed about getting this boy out of diapers. He eats like a grown man, shits like a grown man, and then lays up so I can change a diaper? Umph, that is just nasty. He just turned 18m, so I have a ways to go, but I'd like to start soon. I'm gonna have to pray on it. *laugh* Your burrito innards sounds delish. thindy - That friggin fill made me sick, too. I saw him jab that needle in like a murderer in a scary movie, and cringed. I actually said "gotdamn!" I plan to lay still and listen to my iPod while he does it. I'm a total puss. b'man - can I just say I love you? Your post was the first one I saw this morning and it made me teary. I was feeling mighty low last night. I didn't get on the elliptical, I ate more than I wanted... my spirit had been broken. (okay that "my spirit has been broken" is a bit from last year's American Idol - and it STILL makes me cackle!) Point being, thanks for the peptalk, girlfriend. It's hard sometimes isn't it? You look at everyone else and are genuinely happy for them, and then look at yourself and feel so defeated. Where's the logic? Tonight I am going to ride the elliptical while I watch my Queens of Comedy DVD. Between Sommore and MoNique, I will be laughing my ass off, and that can't hurt either. Even if we don't talk in that Yahoo group, can we still post pictures there? I'd love to share my photos with you all and ask "can you see a difference" (especially when I can't) but I don't want them posted on the www. My side is aching, I think because my pants are too tight. (My booty shakin from the left to the right) I'm ready to pick up my boy, go home and pump it out on the elliptical. Hey - those of you who are doing cardio, what music gets you going? I need to put together a new exercise playlist and am looking for some suggestions. Holla Back, Girls! Nat

My name is Nathalie Grace Adams. NGAdams. I used to have the nickname NGAplz because I think it's funny, though it's not exactly PC, and can be hurtful to people. Dave Chappelle doesn't think so though, but I'm not Dave Chappelle. I also didn't think it would be appropriate for LBT. So I'm just NGAdams

sherilynn - if nothing else, maybe a Yahoo group? Just a thought.

I have some sizes 24 - 28 pants and 3x/2x tops to donate in exchange for 20-22 pants. All of my clothes are business-casual, purchased from Lane Bryant or The Avenue. Navy, Khaki, Black. I'll post pics if anyone is interested.

I live in Grand Rapids, MI and this past week has been so moving while we welcomed our native son home to lay him at rest. I stood on Patterson Ave. and watched the motorcade drive by as they went from the airport to downtown. It was such a moving tribute to President Ford. What a great legacy to leave behind. His children and his family as a whole have been class acts since his passing. They greeted people for a short time at the Gerald Ford museum. So many years after their father left public service, they graciously stepped forward to represent their family.

I'm newly banded - so I end your sentence with ~a renewed sense of confidence. I am determined to succeed with this tool. It's working already!

First of all, let me say I LOVE YOU GUYS! I'm so glad to have you. I was totally bumming last night. I didn't get on my elliptical. It's amazing what a good night's sleep will do for a girl. It's before work and I just got dressed. I was swimming in my dress pants, and today is Friday, so I can dress down a little bit. So I dug through my closet and pulled out some khakis. Size 22. WOOO WOOOOOOOOOO! They slid over my thighs, up over my hips and fastened with no problem. I turned around and my booty looks decent! ((KayDoll... hubba hubba! Nice butt, girl!)) I am excited as all heck. I'm wearing a jacket that has been too small in the arms, too. I took measurements last night - I've lost 3" from my hips and 2" from each thigh. I'll finish when I get to work. Thanks for all your support guys. I can't thank you enough for being here. You guys are AWESOME! Heading out. Nat

bkwalling - I have that pain constantly. I think it is just the raw nerves in the surgical site that get irritated when we bend awkwardly. I don't know if it is the scar tissue or what, but that's my best guess. I usually take the tylenol when it happens, and sometimes use ice on it. I guess heat would work just as well. Take care of yourself!

I'm still up. *sigh* I haven't exercised yet. I am totally struggling to get my jelly on the elliptical tonight. I feel like crying. I'm so tired tonight, my head hurts, my back hurts, and I'm fat. I feel like I've been a bitch today, and I really didn't mean to. I'm trying so hard to be faithful to my LB decision without whining and cheating, and I'm still feeling bad tonight. I think making the ticker did it. I was all geeked about the 35 pound loss, and I see I have damn near 100 pounds to go. Why the F did I let myself get this way? I really felt like punching dream and that other chick for their little crappy ass commentary on my response to her. OF COURSE we have all felt that way. DUH bitch. Did you read ANYTHING or did you just come in here whining. NO one has forgotten, and we've all struggled as newly banded women. It always amazes me when someone asks a question, gets a response they don't like and snarks a response in return. I know. It's me. It's TOTALLY me, but still. Did she even READ? Sheezaly Crow. Just ignore me tonight ladies. Claudia - I have the Inamed VG band. Kathy in Chattaboogie - YOU GO GIRL! You are rocking your band! I had a pain under my left breast, too! I had no idea it was band related. February 1 for your 1st fill? I have an appointment on Jan 25 with the dietician, exercise guy and the PA. I hope they will give me a fill then, otherwise they will haul me back in later for another appointment and fill. I guess if I don't need it, I shouldn't get one. But even though I have restriction, I can eat hunks of chicken and bread. I just choose not to. (rambling, sorry) bkwalling - what is shred (shredded?) chicken? What will you do with it? You're welcome for the suggestions. It's nothing but some kind of meatish thing and some fillers with seasoning. And in all honesty, I'm afraid to eat real foods. If I start chewing and eating, I will go hog wild! b'man - I never did comment on your seal meat idea. HA! That suggestion made me laugh and gag at the same time. I bet is it expensive, and hard to chew. Think it's like Jerky? *laugh* KayDoll - I hope you're getting a lot of studying done, girlfriend. Did you say you had a final? I forgot... StephC - I forgot if your daughter and her friend were leaving tonight or tomorrow. I bet they leave tomorrow since you're so quiet. Hope you're doing well. I think I'm going to skip the exercise tonight. Or maybe i'll do 15 minutes. It's better than nothing. *sigh* Decisions, decisions. I want to be 255 by 1/14, and if I don't shake a tail feather, I'm not going to make it! Talk to my steady girls tomorrow! Nat

Hey Mamas! dawnae - when you're done with the potty training, please share your secrets! I have an 18m old boy, and I know it's a little early to think about getting him out of diapers, but I know I'm going to need some guidance when it's our turn. And thanks for the compliment. It's a struggle for me, girlfriend. Every day is a struggle. I make a daily goal for myself, and try to meet it as best I can. sweethot - I have missed you! I know how it is to get to the point of near starvation! Can you take little Snacks with you while you are out? I tend to take string cheese (70 cals, 7g protein) or some SF Jello (even if it's soupy, it's something). I was that full yesterday and was almost crying because I was so stuffed. As hard as it is, don't drink anything else. Your food will drain slowly, and I bet you'll be full the rest of the night. If you put more Water in your tummy, I think it will just stretch more. I made another chicken whip tonight. 1 can of Swanson's chicken (15g protein) and 1/4c (maybe a bit more) of cottage cheese (9g protein). I added lemon juice, lemon pepper, onion powder and LOTS of greek seasoning. Oh man, it was like a modified tzatziki sauce. I was missing some dippins, so I used celery to dip and sucked it off of the celery. The best part is, I ate sitting down at the table, and ate slowly. I stopped as I was getting full. I'm a little too full now. I feel better than I did last night though. I wonder how long it will be before I get sick of the chicken whip? LOL I made a salmon whip last night for lunch today - it was soupy, but the taste was good. Hope everyone is having a great night! I think I'm turning in early tonight. TTYT! Nathalie

b'man - you make me laugh. I have seen Queens of Comedy and every time Mo'Nique said she wanted to hit a skinny bitch in the head I hollered! She is so funny! And yes, that's exactly the kind of ass I have. A big ole round healthy bounce-it-like-a-basketball ass. I forget it's back there sometimes. I don't think it's as big as it is, because I never look back there and I can't see it shimmy when I walk. (HA!) My booty looks pregnant. LOL But not for long. It's already going down. I can hear her now screaming "I'm melting I'm melting!" like the wicked witch from Wizard of Oz. Was I total B on the Dec Bandsters board? I didn't mean to be. "Whining" irritates me. Oh well. C'est La Vie! Going to eat some chicken with... ricotta, maybe. Or maybe some more cottage cheese with lemon pepper and greek seasoning! YUM! Laterz, Nat edited to add: bk that's a great list! I need to get something like that together. I have a list of "want to do's" and I have a list of goals for this year. I need to work on it though. I want to list 50 things as goals to meet this year. LOL @ "not be the fat one at the gym." I'm not even going to join a gym until I'ma bout 230. There used to be a really big guy at my gym who would "work out" on the stair master while he talked on the cell phone. He also parked in handicap parking. HA!

b'man - thanks *hug* You don't have to "explain" me. People either get me or they don't. No biggie. I never mean to hurt feelings, but I don't know how to be any other way but direct with people. I shoot straight arrows, sometimes they miss their mark. And sometimes I can come out gangbusters when all someone wants is to be placated. It's all good.

I understood your post, and I understand your feelings. Just tried to add some perspective. Take my post for what it's worth. I was trying to help, sorry if you didn't read it as such. I'll take care to offer advice as requested from now on. Good luck, dream! I'm sure you'll do great.

b'man, I did. The way he jammed that needle into her belly gave me the willies. I damn sure won't be watching when they do me! But if it's numb, I won't sweat it. I am just hyper-sensitive to needles. StephC - Yeah, a shelf booty. ahahah If I back against the wall, my ass will touch before my heels or shoulders (even if I lean back). When I am VERY heavy, my butt starts damn near in the middle of my back, and it has this lump of fat at the top of it before it cascades into the serene plumpness known as my golden globes of wonderment assdom. I'm sick of it, I want to rid my trunk of all that junk. It's so dimpled, blind people could read a novel on my butt. Don't even get me started on these thighs...

dream: I'm sorry that you're grumpy and hungry and having a hard time. It seems to me that you're focusing on all the wrong stuff. Instead of thinking about all of the food you can't have, you need to think about all the things you're gaining. We've all been where you are. Sore, irritable, questioning, and shaken up. You've got to ground yourself. Why did you get the band in the first place? What did you want for yourself? I'm sure your end goal hasn't changed. Focus on that, and the rest should fall into place. Remember why you're fat (and I'm fat and we're all fat) in the first place: those "yummy things" you're craving. Yummy means fattening, according to the way we thought before. If we thought fresh fruits and veggies, lean meats and fat free dairy was "yummy" we'd all be a size 8 with hair to our asses and glowing complexions! *smile* You can do it, dream! Just put your mind into it. Nathalie

KayDoll - haychoo! Your proposed title made me laugh out loud at work. I'm supposed to be WORKING!!!! Annie when I come back we'll talk about Seattle. OOOoooooh I love Seattle! Have you ever eaten at Wild Ginger? Girlfriend? To Die For! Nat

I signed up in case we move over there. If not it's all good. I also elected to see the web form instead of getting a kazillion emails. I agree b'man - that can get overwhelming! Annie - your foot trauma sounds really painful. I used to have heel spurs but got a cortisone shot in my heel. Girlfriend? I cussed loudly and then cried in the doctor's office. Openly wept. When I had composed myself I apologized for my outburst. The doctor said not to worry. He had given his father a cortisone shot to the heel, and his father called him an Effin bastard. HA! I hope you're on the mend and up and at 'em soon! Kirsten - That's a great victory! I have a shelf booty, too and I can see that it's going down. Yesterday I was able to zip my jacket and have a little extra room in there. Before I had to wear it open. Okay, I have a lunch meeting with a manager-type, then a team meeting... and then I'm sneaking out early. Nat

Hi Annie - Do you have a tape measure? The scale can be your best friend or the bane of your existence. So even if you're retaining Water and weighing heavy, if you have accurate measurements, you know you're progressing. I measure: neck, upper arms, forearms, bust, ribs (right under my breasts), waist, hips, thighs and calves. It helps to be able to write down smaller numbers. Just a suggestion, of course. N.

Thanks AngelaT... now get out. (HA!) I keed, I keed! A "code title" is a good idea. like *#__.)^ *cracking up* b'man, I'm not "cool" I am just sick to death of toting this big fat ass behind me wherever I go. My surgeon also put some Fluid in my band when he "installed" it. He said that it was waaaaaaay too loose around my stomach and so he made the decision to put a little juice in there to get me going. I am not having hunger too bad, so I am definitely in a different place than some other people who are hungry all the time. Kirsten, if a yahoo group will post the replies nearly immediately and the mods don't have to approve, etc. that may be an easier way to keep in touch with our girls than to hope nobody discovers our secret hide-a-way in the LB Lounge. And btw, ALL of my pants are too big for me now. not just loose, but too big. I can pull them down without unfastening them! I told myself I'm gonna be a baggy pant bitch for a while, because I'm not going to buy pants that i'll shrink out of in a few weeks. Plus I have some smaller size pants (20) that I should be able to fit soon enough (25 more pounds or so). So do you guys have any mini-goals set up for yourselves? I have 11 days to lose 9 pounds. lol @ elliptical goddess. Hardly - I just feel guilty vegging on the couch now, because the elliptical is directly behind it! I can ride and watch tv, too. And I don't go fast. Just keeping the fatbod in motion.

Yes, thanks for the instructional video. My surgeon doesn't use floro and I have been really nervous about it. Glad to hear that it doesn't hurt due to the freeze spray. And it's a quick hit - in and out. Excellent! My first fill is 1/25 and I have been dreaming about it. There's only one kind of poke I like, and it doesn't come from a needle! Nathalie

Geri - Congrats! Your surgeon should tell you what to eat after your band is placed. It seems that most of our surgeons tell us different things. Is there a dietician in the surgeon's office for you to speak with? Good luck! Nathalie

Okay Ladies! (I was gonna say "Okay bitches" (a la Tyra Banks) but I didn't know how well that would go over! HA!) STOP EATING JUNK! Remember how we got fat in the first place? A taste turned into 3 helpings. A donut turned into a dozen. A few chips turned into the whole bag. And we know that even though those things taste good, in the long run they make us feel worse about ourselves than we did to begin with. So rationally why do it? Why even have it in the house? Why tempt yourself when we know how weak of spirit we are? I have committed to eating only lean meats, FF dairy and fruits/veggies. Plus the SF popsicles and SF Jello as needed. No excuses from me. They had muffins and chocolate here at work yesterday, I didn't even sniff it. Why? BECAUSE THAT SHIT IS WHAT MADE ME FAT IN THE FIRST PLACE! Instead I sipped my hot chocolate and gagged down my Protein pudding wad of goo. We have to get over the taste of food and treat ourselves as we deserve to be treated. I am a treasure, and I will treasure myself. I am worth more than a candy bar or a bag of tortilla chips. I am deserving of health and happiness. I want to look myself in the mirror and not feel a sense of shame or failure. And in order to accomplish that, I. can. not. eat. junk. I urge you all to challenge yourselves. You're strong enough. You've taken steps to improve your lives. Now live the life that you want for yourself. It's going to take hard work. It's going to take discipline. You're going to have to deny yourself culinary treats. But the end results will taste better and feel better than any morsel of food or any soft and luxurious sofa. Eat well, and get up off your butts and move. I hate it so very much, but my fat ass was on that elliptical last night for 30 minutes and again this morning for another 30 minutes. I'm tired, I'm irritable and I'm hungry. But I'm going to eat this string cheese and drink this hot chocolate. For lunch I'm having some soupy salmon junk. And for dinner I may eat some more of that egg crap. But I'm getting my protein, counting my calories and I CAN SEE A DIFFERENCE! I am 2 pounds down from Tuesday's doctor's appointment. Nope, didn't eat pie, but I FEEL FRIGGIN GREAT ABOUT ME! I hope I didn't offend anyone with my special brand of tough love. My words are for me as much as anyone else here. I am weak, but I am trying to improve my life. If I can't control the things I put into my mouth, I can't control anything. We can do it girls. We can do it. Love You All! Nathalie

Good question, Beversman - I was worried about that, too, with all this eggy mush in my belly. I am soooooooooooooooooooooooo full! I'm miserable. I just wish it would pass into my kettle (Mother Stomach, as StephC calls it) and digest already. uuuuuuuuuugh. I'm going to feel this way until morning, and then I'll be ravenous. I think I'm doing liquids 3 meals tomorrow. Nathalie