ElfiePoo

Bread has been a problem since surgery, although I can eat a small piece of very crusty french bread if I tear off all the 'soft' parts. Rice and potatoes...no problem although 2 Tbs usually fills me up when I eat them *after* I eat my 2 oz of Protein and 1/4 cup of vegies (sometimes 1/2). Pasta I have to avoid because it is a slider food for me. Even now when I can barely eat more than 3/4 cup of food, I could sit down and eat several cups of pasta because it just 'slides' right through. .

Prior to restriction...yes. Once I had restriction...no. The reason is that if I take even a sip of water with my meal, it immediately causes a stuck sensation. I'm guessing because it's moving things around in there. In any case, within seconds it came right back up. The thought of 'oversploding' is enough to put me off liquids with my meal. I used to drink right up until my first bite. Now that I have restriction I can't even do that because the water stays in my pouch long enough to cause problems with that first bite. So I stop drinking 15 minutes before I eat. I have a 20 oz Dasani water bottle that I fill with either water or Crystal Lite. I just make sure to drink one bottle in between Breakfast and lunch, between lunch and dinner and one in the evening. That, combined with my 4 Protein drinks (breakfast, mid-morning, mid-afternoon, evening) and my cup of green tea in the morning give me all of my fluids and then some.

This site is a bit misleading. Following this '5 day test' will not tell you whether or not your pouch is stretching, still working, etc. It's just a way of getting your eating habits back on track if you find you're slipping too often. In the past, I've done this with success. I've also done a Master Cleanse program for a few days. I've even fasted for a few days. They all work and, contrary to what some people think they are for, *none* are meant to lose weight because as soon as you start eating again, that weight is back because it was just Water weight. I no longer have this problem since I've gained restriction because the band doesn't allow me to slide into the bad habit of eating too many carbs because, since my last fill, just a small amount of rice or potato fills me up (like 2Tbs). However, I know from reading this forum that some people have a problem with sweets...which the band doesn't really help with...and a 3-5 day 'cleanse' of any kind helps get back on track. .

Interesting, because all the anecdotal studies (and that's about all there are) on Atkins shows that cholesterol problems actually improve. Perhaps these people were doing a perverted form of Atkins. The media was pretty big on hyping this perverted form during the Atkins craze about 10 years ago (or so) by showing people who were eating 6 eggs and a pound of bacon for Breakfast and slathering butter on everything. That is not Atkins. Atkins was very clear that bacon was limited to 1 slice per egg and also very clearly said that you cannot eat all the fat you want because you will stop losing due to the high calories in the fat. He was also very clear that after 2 weeks, carbs should be reintroduced into the person's diet...but in the form of vegies rather than potatoes and bread. I lost 70 pounds on Atkins...and have kept it off now for 7 years despite not eating quite as low carb as I did then. My good and bad cholesterols improved while on Atkins. Sorry if it sounds like I'm on my soapbox, but it irritates me when people bad mouth a low carb diet or even Atkins because if they did them in the correct manner and didn't just do them as an excuse to pig out on as much meat and fat as they can stuff into themselves, they'd not only lose weight but their cholesterol, diabetes, etc. would improve dramatically. <kicking soap box under table> .

Ketosis is not necessarily a bad thing either...unless you already have problems with your kidneys. The Atkins diet deliberately puts people in ketosis by restricting carbs. If you peed on a little test strip, the deeper the purple, the higher the ketones...supposedly. I found that just by increasing my Water intake, the strip didn't even turn slightly purple...but I was still in the same state of ketosis. I am a diabetic and my physician, who specializes in diabetes, has no problem with me shedding ketones in my urine as a result of a low carb diet. However, her rule of thumb for all her patients who do extremely low carb (under 60 per day) is that you not only should be drinking 64 oz of water per day, but you should be drinking an additional 8 oz for every 25 lbs you are overweight. The reason is 'dilution'. .

BB, Everyone responds differently to fills. My first and 2nd fills were done 2 weeks apart and I had 3cc each time with no effect. I have a 12cc band by the way. Not sure why they're making you wait 3 weeks to get a fill though. I mean sure, you may have some swelling from the stuck episode, but if you are able to eat to excess, then the swelling can't be bad enough to prevent a fill. Maybe not so much though.

IL: By now you'll be gone, but I know you'll probably still find a way to read this thread, so have a great time! All this warm weather has had me soooo wanting to do a road trip to anywhere! Betsy: You and Mark are in my prayers. I have to agree with you about not isolating one's self from the 'break room'...although I'm finding that eating with others is a bit of a challenge since I sometimes forget and take too big of a bite because I'm too busy concentrating on the conversation instead of my meal. Hopefully, it will one day become habit so I won't have to think about it. Jens: I remember the days when I'd wander out to my office in my Pj's...but then the business grew too big and I had to get a warehouse. Granted, it's only 5 minutes down the road, but it still means I have to get up, get dressed and go to work just as if it was a 'real' job. My other job involves psychological counseling on a part-time basis at the local prison and, obviously, not something I can do in my own home...nor would want to. :laugh: In any case, finding the motivation to go to work is never a problem. I'm a bit of a workaholic. A few years back, though, I had to do a serious shift in priorities where I would work 'less' so I had more time to spend with my family. IL: In response to your list, I posted something awhile back about making our mealtimes something we do 'intentionally'. Breakfast is a shake and I have it while posting to the lap band forum...but my lunch and dinner are prepared and laid out at the table with my best china, placemat and candles. I have a beautiful CD of cello music that I put on in the background which helps me to slow down and savor my meal instead of rushing through it so I can get back to my 'day'. I do this even when I'm eating alone. Cocoa: They let you have coffee in the jury box? Wonder if they'll rethink this in the future. :blushing: Seriously though, I can relate. Sounds like something I'd do. CC: I'm sure everything will be fine. Good luck! Leigha: I am so jealous! Our trees aren't even 'thinking' about blooming. I know nobody's feelings will be hurt by not being mentioned. If we all commented on *everyone* *everytime*, we'd never get anything accomplished! Have a great day everyone! .

Another NSV moment...going into your primary doc and not dreading getting on the scale and then hearing her 'gentle' disappointment that I'm still not taking care of my diabetes (read: losing weight) as I should. My doc is this soft spoken, gentle Indian woman who just makes you feel as if she genuinely cares about you and your health and I love her to death. She's been about for maternity leave since just after my band surgery so she was quite pleased to see I'd lost 35 pounds since my last visit. Interestingly, her office assistant had a gastric sleeve done the same day I had my band. She's down 100 pounds. You know, I thought the sleeve would be similar to the band since they aren't rerouting your insides around so there's no malabsorption, but she's the 3rd person I've talked to who had the sleeve and who are dealing with major fatigue and immune type illnesses. Wonder if it's because their weight loss is not as gradual since they're not spending months getting to restriction. Dunno...but I'm more than ever glad I went for the band. I took my son to lunch at Ruby Tuesday's after my doc appointment yesterday and, in the past, we'd split an appetizer, then each do an entree with the all you can eat salad bar. This time I had their appetizer sized lump crab cake and the salad bar even though my salad consisted of this tiny little pile of spring greens with a couple garbanzo beans and blue cheese dressing. When my crab cake arrived, there was a tiny little pile of spring greens on the plate...the same size as my salad! Shoot, I'll bet they would've let me put a bit of blue cheese dressing on it and I could've saved myself the $2.99 for the salad bar! Making a mental note for next time. The piles of snow are almost gone here due to the mid-40's temps and last night's rain. My fingers are 'itching' to dig into my gardens but we're still almost 2 1/2 months away from when it's safe to plant anything. I am so seriously thinking of building a greenhouse. Well, I need to stop in at work this morning and pay some bills and then I have the rest of my 3 day weekend off. I think I'll surprise my little piglet dog and take her for a walk. Now...where'd I put that leash? .

Well, you're still here...so maybe not. :blushing: .

I have to say that I love getting up and going to work every morning, but then I've worked for myself for 15 years and have never regretted the decision since I was *miserable* working for people who not only did not appreciate the effort and pride I took in doing a good job for them, but actually wanted me to take short cuts and do a less satisfactory job. Gotta love those government jobs. I have a busy morning planned. We start off by taking Piglet (aka Sophie the dog) to the groomers since she decided to go mud puddle jumping yesterday afternoon *and* she's smelling a bit like fritos (her aroma when she needs a bath). While she's doing that, I'll head to work and pay the company bills. Then off to my cello lesson. Then home to do some straightening up and then I think I'm going to either veg for the afternoon or take my idiot child (the 17 year old) off to see Sherlock Holmes. My only regret yesterday...chinese food. No, I didn't over do it, but the sodium in that 3/4 cup of lo mein must've been a whopper because I'm puffy with holding water and up 2 lbs! Now, there was a time I could take a water pill and drop 7 lbs, but this is ridiculous from 3/4 cup of chinese food. (Making note: no more chinese unless I make it at home). Hope you all have a great day! Oh...and Leigha...up your calories. Studies show women who eat 1200-1400 calories per day lose faster and with less plateaus than lose who eat 1000 and less. Bob, a big DITTO on the positive attitude. Years back I noticed that I was constantly looking at life from a negative perspective. Then I noticed that my entire maternal family does the same thing...which has landed a number of them in the mental ward for attempted suicide, depression, etc. I started to deliberately smack myself when I was being negative and look for the silver lining and expect to find one. Now it's habit and I have to say...life is good. Oh sure, bad things still happen, but there's always a silver lining to be found. Have a good day everyone! .

Feel free to 'interrupt' on a regular basis. Join in! :sad: .

It's still hard work...sorry. :sad: The band won't keep us from eating high calorie slider foods, sweets or just generally making bad choices. It basically comes down to "calories in/calories out" so you will have to 'move' whether that's just getting up off your butt and doing things around the house, yard, etc...or a formal exercise program. If you have a desk job and then come home and sit in front of the tv, your calorie requirements will be quite low. The problem is, depending on 'how' low, dropping your calories to accommodate a very sedentary lifestyle may result in a much slower weight loss if you have to drop them below 1000 per day. The band helps me in a couple ways. First, it controls my portions. After my last fill, I'm eating 2 oz of protein and 1/2 cup of steamed vegies. At dinner, I'll only eat 1/4 cup of vegies because I really do want my 1/4 cup of carbs (pasta, beans rice) and both won't fit these days. Usually, there's just something in my head that 'knows' I'm full and not to take another bite...even if there's food left on my plate. It also helps control my carbs because so many of them get stuck and I've had to just avoid them completely for that reason. Recently, I've also discovered the band helps me in another way. It's taken eating from a hobby that I enjoyed to something I do because I have to. Don't get me wrong...I still enjoy food but not with the intensity that I did pre-band. As for your doctor 'guaranteeing' you'll lose 100 pounds...it's a false guarantee. With a bypass, they guarantee you'll lose 2/3 of your excess weight because of the malabsorption. That's not true of the band. In fact, read through the forum and you'll find some people have only lost 25 lbs. Your doctor's guarantee sounds a lot like those diet ads where they 'guarantee' you'll lose weight with their little pill but if you read the teeny print along the bottom of the screen it says "when used with a low calorie diet and exercise". It is worth it though...really. .

...gotcha :thumbup:. I decided that I need a hobby to keep my hands busy and my brain occupied. So here's my new hobby and my new baby...sorry if the pic is too big...I don't know how to change them. And yes, it is a cello. I figure you're never to old to learn and it will definitely keep my hands...and brain cells...occupied.

Then don't wait. If you are hungry between meals and can eat to excess, then you need a fill. The whole purpose of the band is to restrict our portions. Until you get restriction, it's just a piece of plastic. Makes no sense to me that people will go through all of this hassle to get the band and then not make it do its job. I had my first 3cc fill 4 weeks postop, another 3cc two weeks later, another 1 cc a week later and then .5cc every week or two until I hit restriction at 8.5cc. At 3 months post op I had restriction. Try eating 2-3 oz of steak, 1/2 cup of vegies (like broccoli) and 1/4 cup of carbs (Pasta, Beans, rice). I say steak because many of us have trouble with chicken sticking. You should be full by the time (if not before) you finish that meal. If you aren't, you probably need another fill. 5cc in a 14cc band means you most likely need a fill. Keep in mind that after every fill you may have temporary restriction for a few days to a few weeks...or not at all. It varies with the individual. .

I would disagree. One pound in 3 months, without band restriction, means she *is* doing the work or she would have gained back or gained more during that time. Once she has restriction, then the band is working with her to control portion sizes. The combination is when we lose weight. No, it's not a magic wand. It is a tool, but until that tool is calibrated and we have restriction, it's just a piece of plastic. I'm not denying that some people are motivated just by getting that little piece of plastic, but those who aren't are not doing anything wrong. By the way...I don't work out and I reached restriction 5 weeks ago and have lost over 18 pounds. Our weight loss is pretty much about calories in vs. calories out. Eat fewer calories than needed to maintain your current weight and activity level and you will lose. Eat more and you'll gain. .

I'm too tight in the mornings to eat, so I do a double scoop of Protein powder in milk and that gives me about 50gm of protein right there. Then I do a low carb/low cal (3, 110) Protein shake mid-morning, mid-afternoon and in the evening. It not only adds 60 more grams of protein, but keeps me from being hungry due to the additional protein, stabilizes my blood sugar and boost my calories. I know, the last seems weird, but without the shakes, my calories are only coming in at around 900-1000 and we lose faster and more steadily at 1200-1400. By the time I add in my protein from my two meals, I'm getting about 130-140gm of protein each day. .

ROFL...no...that would be the bass. The cello is actually quite manageable, although it does take up the whole back seat of the car! .

While I love the pink lemonade, I have a problem with it if I drink more than 1 glass a day. Too acidic for me. But I drink *lots* of the Fruit Punch and Cherry Pomegranate without any problem. .

Ahhhh...love my morning shake. It's the one point in my day when I know I won't get stuck, slime or PB. You know, I use to look forward to each meal while eating the current one. Now...I don't look forward to meals at all. I don't dread them, but I don't take the same pleasure out of them that I used to. They're just something I have to do like brush my teeth, take a shower, etc. I *expected* the band to aid me by controlling my portion sizes physically. I had no idea it would do so with psychology. Oh well, whatever works. I'm feeling pretty good this morning considering I've spent the last 5 days cleaning and rearranging cupboards, washing walls and cleaning carpets. Shhh...don't let anyone know I said the exercise must be making me feel better cuz you know *I* would never admit to any such thing. :thumbup: However, I can kick back and relax the rest of the week. My husband is in Florida helping my oldest son and wife move into their first new home and I told my 17 year old son that he's on his own this week as far as food. I am not cooking. Fortunately, my little future chef is perfectly capable of managing. Have a good day everyone! .

Betsy: Whoa...just read the posts on Mark. Lots of prayers and good wishes winging your way. Jen: Congrats on no 'camel toe' and yes, you did say that. I'm going to giggle all morning over that one. IllumLady: 14"! Woot! You go, girl. That is an incredible difference! You must feel mah-velous! Lizzy: Frighteningly, according to the rising number of drivers getting in accidents as a result of talking on cell phones, these moments do not stop when they start driving. Leigha: Sorry your husband's tired of hearing about your weight loss. Next time he says so, ask him if this isn't better than hearing about your weight *gain*. Besides...you have us and we love to hear about your weight loss! Ok...page 10...back to reading... Cocoa: Ok, I am laughing about your stuck episode and husband's response but only because I've 'been there, done that'. It's getting to the point where I just don't want to eat out anymore because I'm never sure what's going to do it next. Congrats on being so close to goal! Wow...how did I miss that?! As for heading your way for the cleaning...my method of organizing involves getting rid of anything I haven't used in the last year. I stick it in a box and put it in the garage...and if nobody misses it for the 2nd year, out it goes...and I don't even open the box up first cuz you know how that will go...back in the house. BT: LOL on creating blender masterpieces. One of my band books has a bunch of recipes that are quite...ummm...creative. If you get a craving for a cheeseburger, try this one. Take one Wendy's single with cheese and remove the top bun only. Tear/cut the rest up and put in blender. Add beef broth and run until you have a slurry of whatever thickness you like. Voila! Cheeseburger shake! GACK!! These people must honestly think fat people will eat *anything*. Good luck on your 'create-a-shake'. HB: I used to love bowling, but found at some point that I just couldn't bend enough to get that ball off right because I did worry about splitting my crotch. Guess I just didn't have my priorities right, eh? :thumbup: All the rest, forgive me if I missed commenting. Soooo many posts! Ok...off to make my shake and I will be back...

Astrasmom gave some very good advice. My Protein intake is around 150gm a day and I really think that's why I have no hunger or cravings. Most of that comes from my morning and mid-meal shakes. Our motivation to do this has to come from within. As so many have already said, you don't have to give up your chocolates, just eat them in moderation. I'm not much of a sweet eater, but I've found that having a 'treat' to look forward to in the evening helps me get through all the little temptations of the day. Sometimes my treat is one piece of Dove chocolate. Last night I actually splurged on 1/2 cup of a gorgeous wine. Probably won't do that one too often as I forgot that I wake up in the morning *starving* and with a serious case of the munchies. Get your protein in, drink your Water, eat healthy/nutritious meals and save your treats (and make them small ones) for the evening as a reward. .

Ok...here's my baby. She's a 'rescue' doggie. It's a long story but involves me threatening a relative with the law if they didn't give me the dog. They didn't physically beat her but she was abused and neglected, nonetheless... Yes that is snow on her nose. She loves to eat the stuff.

I don't think I ever had a cat that lived less than 13 years and they've all been indoor cats. Female, spayed and into the vet every year for their checkup and vaccines. Most of my cats started as strays that just kind of showed up on our doorstep and *somehow* found their way into our home...and hearts. The one we have now is going on 10 years...we think (since she was a stray and they made a guess based on her teeth) and we've had her for about 9 years, give or take. .

No you haven't stretched your pouch. Give yourself a pat on the back for calling your husband and telling him 'not' to bring you something home and for moving forward! .

Nope...right there with you, Betsy. I went on WW back in 1980 and that was when I could honestly look at the 'volume' I was eating and wonder how the heck I could possibly weigh 200 lbs. Long story short, it had more to do with loving carbs, junk food and all the wrong things combined with a low metabolism from lack of activity. At any rate, I joined WW and was horrified at the amount of food they wanted me to eat. I asked the woman if there was a revised plan and she said no and basically said that I was lying to myself. That I really eat more than I admit I do. Ok...30 days later, I'd gained 12 pounds and I'm telling you I was a fanatic about measuring everything! When I got up on the scale and showed a 12 pound gain and the woman told me I was not being honest about recording what I was eating...and was booed by the group...I walked out and haven't had any use for WW since. I try to keep my carbs below 50 even though I know that 25-35 would be better as far as my blood sugar is concerned. .