ElfiePoo

The best gifts, I've always thought, are the ones that show 'thought'. One year my husband gave me a 'coupon' book containing coupons for a back rub, foot massage, full body massage, carpet scrubbing, etc. It was probably one of the best gifts he's ever given me. This year we're giving family and friends little containers of my home grown organic dried herbs. Last year I gave everyone 3 bars of my homemade soap. My 17 year old gave me 4 'gift' certificates for one day (each) of 'yard work without whining'. :thumbup: A few years back we gave everyone a quart jar of 'bean soup' mix (dried Beans, a muslin bundle of seasoning/herbs and the recipe). It was a big hit. I agree with Lolly...don't start a tradition of not giving to each other. Your partner is the most important person in your life and comes first.

Deekel, So you recognize that you had an emotional eating moment. That's good! We aren't going to break bad habits overnight...but we can restructure our lives to lessen these moments. I guess I don't see how you would be 'selfish' by not giving Christmas presents to others when you can't afford it...and let's face it, if you have to give up your own holiday to give gifts, then you can't...afford it that is. No shame in that. Times are tough. So get your tree, put up your decorations and celebrate the holiday. Then I would explain to family and friends that there just is no money to spend on gifts this year, but know they will understand. If it makes you uncomfortable to get gifts when you can't give, tell them this. You can always ask that if they feel the must give you something, to donate it to those even worse off than you...like the Salvation Army. Giving should be joyful, not stressful...and if you're emotionally eating at the thought of not having your own Christmas, then it's stressful and not joyful. Take care of you. .

ROFL...mine does too but I'm only 3 weeks out from surgery. I'm hoping it goes down in time, but you know what...if it doesn't I'm going to be ok with it. I mean really...we're worried about a 'bump' on our torso when we had/have fat rolls dripping off it now? :biggrin: .

I look at the scale as my enemy. It is the big deceiver. It tells me I've gained 2 pounds since the day of my surgery and yet my clothes are hanging on me and my morning sugar readings have gone from 345 to 170...even lower in the evenings...in the last 3 weeks since surgery. Kick it to the curb. .

The band is not a mental control device. Just because it's there, it's not going to stop you from overeating (as some idiots think). If you can still overeat, you don't have restriction. The band should be controlling how much you can put in you at one time and giving you a sense of fullness for a longer time after you eat. If it doesn't, it sounds as if you don't have restriction. Talk to your doc. Oh and why can't you have a salad and regular food? I'm generally happy with Protein shakes all day until dinner and I'm usually too busy to want to stop and eat anyway, but at dinner I eat a regular meal. Last night I had some baked cod, rice pilaf and a small salad with some homemade blue cheese dressing...albeit only one helping and the whole thing only totalled about a cup of food and it took me longer to eat than it had pre-band. A fraction of what I used to eat...and that was why I got the band. What the band won't do is keep you from bad choices. That part is up to you. .

Perhaps a nurse here can help, but it was my understanding that the kidneys are towards the back of the body and pain (assuming it's not referred pain) from the kidneys would be in the lower back area. .

Normal. I was banded on Nov 3rd and I've been cold ever since. We're drinking a lot of fluids so we're flushing a lot of fluids (and not eating a lot of stuff high in hidden sodium which causes us to hold fluids) which means we're not holding water as much as we used to. That water was an insulator. Also, we're not stoking the fire, so to speak, by eating as much as we used to. It's a good sign. Wear warmer socks, put on a sweatshirt, buy long johns. I think this is a plus because when you're cold, you can always put on more clothes. When you're too hot (as I used to be all the time), you can strip but naked and still be uncomfortably hot. .

The best thing you can use on scars (assuming they're somewhat new and not decades old) is pure rose hip seed oil. Studies were done on mastectomy patients and the results were phenomenal. Rose hip seed oil is proven to rejuvenate skin cells...unlike other products making such claims. If you need a good source, I'd be happy to give you mine. Just send me a message. I don't know the rules on posting it to the list.

Congratulations!

Oh, I thought they were, "My underwear is too big!"

I think you mean 'least' conservative :cool2:. I was on clear liquids for 3 days, full liquids for a week, pureed starts today for a week, then soft foods for a week. Then finally real food. Now that's conservative. :thumbup:

Research suggests that breakfast is the most important because it gets your metabolism going. There's no reason LB surgery would change that, if true. Personally, I eat my first meal at 7 a.m. and then eat a small meal every 3 hours (6 small meals a day). .

I'm cold all the time since my surgery but I have no doubt it's because I'm not holding as much Fluid under my skin and I'm not generating as much heat...maybe due to not 'fueling' my body as much as I used to? Personally, this is a plus for me since I was always miserably hot before, needing a fan even in the wintertime. .

Exactly where is stamped on our butts at birth that our bodies were designed to eat 3 meals per day? It's not. Somebody in the medical/nutrition industry made this decision and pushed it as 'fact'. The same way they pushed the food pyramid as fact...until a year or so ago when they said 'oops' and upended it. So much for their 'experience'. If you're happy on 3 meals a day, then by all means stick with it. However, for those who are having difficulty, 6 smaller meals a day is an acceptable substitute and it's not a diet...it's a lifestyle change. To the OP. Find what works for you. Doctors and nutritionists are nothing more than one more source of information. They aren't infallible and they aren't God. If you're hungry and craving between meals, break your meals up into six smaller meals. If that works, does it really matter what anyone else says? .

I mix my own shakes, but I read that EAS makes a ready made shake as well. The powder alone is 23 gm protein and 130 calories (chocolate). Check Sam's Club. The EAS powder is $30 for 5 lbs versus $70 for 3.5 pounds of the powder at GNC.

I almost canceled my surgery after finding this site and for the same reasons...but keep reading. For every story of someone getting stuck or throwing up, there are many many more from people who never have had a problem with either. I didn't 'exercise' (if you mean going to the gym, doing Pilates, etc.) before and don't intend to now. I do intend to live a more active lifestyle. As my weight comes off, I find I have more energy and *want* to move. I'm seriously thinking of getting a set of Tai Bo DVD's because it looks like so much fun. Based on the posts I've been reading, the answer is yes...you just don't eat as much as you used to. Which, to me, is the purpose of the band. .

Yep. Prior to surgery I was drinking close to a gallon of water per day. Now, I have to force myself to drink my required 64 oz. I'm guessing it's due to the lack of sodium in my diet now. Yes, the water helps with weight loss. It makes all your organs function efficiently. Without the hydration, they have to work harder meaning they don't do the job they were designed to do as well as they could. I know that if I get sidetracked and don't get my water in, I start dragging...a definite loss of energy and I get a bit brain fogged. I just make it a point to drink a 20 oz bottle between my meals and another one in the evening (plus a bit more). I find it's easier to get down if it's just water and not flavored.

ROFLMAO...thank you for the laugh! .

I'd swap the Slim Fast shakes (particularly if you the one you're using is not low carb) for something like EAS or another whey Protein powder. They're generally lower calorie...or at least higher protein. My EAS whey powder that I get at Sam's Club has 23 gm of protein. I generally drink shakes for Breakfast and sometimes lunch and have to say that the higher protein keeps the hunger at bay longer. I've also found that when I'm feeling a bit 'growly' in the evening, I drink some beef or chicken broth (homemade) and the warmth soothes the tummy...there's a contentment factor as well. .

Tell your nutritionist to update her 'knowledge'. Research has proven that six small meals are better than 3 meals with no Snacks because it (6 small meals) stabilizes the blood sugar levels which helps eliminate hunger and cravings. I am still on full liquids but I still drink a shake every 3 hours. Three shakes are with milk and the 'in betweens' are the lower calorie Isopure shakes made with Water. If you're eating regular food, a hard boiled egg, string cheese or a tablespoon of Peanut Butter in a stalk of celery or half an apple are great mini-meals. Even a low cal Protein shake would be good.

Prior to surgery, I was a carbonation addict...sugar free pop and flavored waters and Perrier. I'm only a week past surgery with no fills and even though I know I can drink it without 'pain', I'm getting into good habits for later. I bought some crystal lite, but to be honest, I've been sticking pretty much to plain Water. .

How many of us actually know what 'full' feels like (versus 'stuffed'). I start my day with an 8 oz glass of Water. Then I drink a Protein shake for Breakfast, lunch and dinner and try to drink 20 oz of water between these meals. I'll have another 8 oz of water sometime during the evening. Occasionally I'll have a hot cup of broth in the evening just to make my stomach feel 'content'. I never feel 'full', but I'm never hungry either. As for the gas....get up and move. It does pass (ar ar) eventually. .

Today makes one week since my surgery and I've been doing very very well. Not only rebounding, but in attitude, lack of hunger, healing, etc. I've been content, for the most part, with drinking my Isopure shakes, but this afternoon I was feeling the need for a bit of something different so I opened up the book my clinic gave me and pulled up one of the shake recipes for 'full liquids'. Oh my my. Not something I'd do everyday (although I don't doubt you could) since I like to keep stuff like this as treats for when I feel 'deprived'. Definitely tastes like a banana split! 1/2 cup skim milk 3 frozen strawberries 1/2 banana 1/8 cup crushed pineapple in juice 1 scoop EAS chocolate Protein powder (any kind will do as long as it mixes with milk) Blend it all in a blender and serve. Enjoy! .

I just discovered the EAS powder at Sam's. The vanilla is only 110 calories but the chocolate is 130 and the protein in the chocolate is 23. Not substantially different enough for me to worry about since I dislike vanilla. They do taste good though, don't they.

I inadvertently discovered that my Isopure Dutch chocolate powder does not mix with skim milk. It kind of clumped up and left chewy little clumps all through it. So I went out today and bought some EAS Chocolate whey Powder from Sam's Club. Half the price of the Isopure, although it is about 20 calories and 2 carbs higher and 2 grams Protein less than the Isopure...but the flavor is phenomenally richer. After a bout of shopping that left my mouth salivating, I decided to make a bit more substantial shake for lunch by using a scoop of EAS chocolate powder, 1 cup skim milk and half of a small banana. I think I may possibly have died and gone to heaven! .