ElfiePoo

I disagree. I'm sure those in charge of this competition know all about WLS and if it was important to them, it would be in their rules...and it may very well be. The OP should not have to go public about her WLS unless she is comfortable doing so. Remember, we are talking about people who aren't even telling their spouses they're getting the band. Here's the thing...if they didn't exclude WLS patients in their rules, they have no legal grounds for excluding them...and I'm sure their lawyers have considered all angles. Again, the band is not an 'advantage'. If it was we would not be seeing people who only lost 25 pounds over the last year, or who gained back 100 pounds after losing it the year before or who still struggle with making bad food choices or grazing. It is a 'tool'. If the band is an advantage, then belonging to WW, Jenny Craig or Nutrisystems would be an advantage. We each choose the tool that we can work with...but the tool does not do the work for us. I see nothing morally wrong with the OP participating because bottom line is that *she*, not the band, will be doing all the work. .

I agree. However, if the contest rules say nothing about excluding WLS patients and they don't ask, I don't think there is a necessity to volunteer the info either. .

My doctor told me I could resume regular activity after two weeks...until he found that my regular activity included lifting 25# containers. I was limited to 5# lift for 2 weeks and a max 10# lift for 6 weeks. I was not allowed to lift 25# until about week 7 or 8. You don't want to be walking a patient and have them suddenly dead weight on you with 100+ pounds. It wouldn't be safe for them or you. .

I'm thinking a pair of handcuffs to chain me to the seat might be needed as well. :tt1: .

The band is just a tool...just like a treadmill. If it's working properly and we use it properly, we'll lose weight. If not, we won't. I don't see having the band as cheating any more than I see having the use of a treadmill in your home as cheating. We don't magically lose weight just because we have the band. The biggest loser is about perseverance, self-control and willpower...and we didn't get those installed with the band. Just ask those who are gaining weight after having taken it off...or who have only lost 25 pounds this past year or who struggle on a daily basis to make the right food choices and not graze. If anything, I think those who don't have the band may have the advantage because they won't be relying on the false security of a band (as way too many banded do)...which means they may actually be motivated to work harder. My .02.

Every doctor's requirement is different. Mine says 1 cup at each meal. I didn't worry about it too much until I had restriction. I just ate what I felt normal people would eat...and as much. I didn't then...and still don't...see the point in telling someone they should be eating as if they have restriction when they won't have the help of that restriction, but then that's just me. .

I headed out yesterday morning to do errands and didn't get more than 5 miles from my house when I had a car accident. Both I and the other guy were sitting facing each other at a red light. He was going to turn left in front of me. When the light turned green, we both started out. I tend to start out cautiously while looking left and right to make sure nobody is running the redlight from the other direction. Well, I guess I was going too slow for him and he hit his gas pretty hard to zip in front of me and the right corner of his van plowed dead center into my bumper. He gets out of his car screaming about how he had a green light. Yes...so did I. And his light is still green. Yes...so is mine. He never seemed to understand that I had the right of way. Then he starts talking about how he doesn't want any problems and let's just go our own way. Ummm...the hood of my car is buckled in half and he's destroyed my radiator and it looks like there's most likely over $6K damage...don't think so. When I told him 'no' because I needed a police report for my insurance company, he kept insisting that he didn't want any problems and started getting back in his car! I'm standing outside my car and he starts driving off but to do so he literally had to shove my car out of the way because he's buried in the front bumper! So I'm busily scrambling out of the way to keep from getting run over by my own car, not believing that this guy is just leaving and I hear a 'whoop whoop'. No joke...the sheriff deputy just happened to be driving by! The guy got about 2 blocks down and must've looked in his mirror and saw the flashing lights because he stopped and then had the nerve to tell the deputy that he was just moving his car out of the intersection. I think he lost all credibility though when the deputy discovered he was driving on a revoked license because of a DUI. They towed his car and took him off to jail. I guess he thought risking a hit and run (and maybe never getting caught) was better than this. For all those times when I wished a cop was around, thank you God for putting this one right where I needed him when I most needed him!

Yep, my stomach growls occasionally but I'm not hungry. I'm learning to just tell it to shut up and then ignore it. Some people do have a temporary restriction after a fill, most likely due to temporary swelling. I never did. .

Well for the first time in a week, I ate lunch and 30 minutes later my stomach was saying "Yo...is it dinner yet?" :smile2: Which led to a serious cave-in at the movie theater this afternoon. I don't walk to talk about it. Let's just say that I'm now suffering from serious carb overload and I want to kill myself for being so stupid and weak. .

roflmao. /.

I just 'rediscovered' oatmeal today. I stopped eating oatmeal a few years back because it's not good for diabetics. However, I read an article that said this was for the typical 'rolled' oats but that steel cut oats were ok. So, off to the store I went for a container of steel cut oats. Then I found a few recipes on the internet but this is the one I did and it turned out great... 1 1/2 cups steel-cut oats 6 cups Water Dried fruit Honey, Brown sugar or pure maple syrup, for serving (optional) In a large saucepan, boil the oats in the water for 1 minute. Cover and let stand overnight at room temperature. The next day, uncover the oats and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, stirring frequently, until the oatmeal is cooked and creamy but still a little bit chewy, about 10 minutes. Serve. Top each bowl with dried fruit and sweetener. I'm the only one that likes oatmeal so I just divided this up into individual servings in small plastic containers. I'll just add some milk to it and pop it in the microwave to reheat. The fruit and sweetening are added just before serving and are optional. I just add the fruit. It gives just the right amount of sweetness and without the added calories of the other sweeteners. I had my usual Protein shake for breakfast this morning, but after spending some time outside shoveling the drive, I had a bowl of hot oatmeal for lunch. .

Just curious how most people viewed their meals. Pre-band I had a tendency to eat on the go. Many nights, now that my kids are grown, I'd fix dinner and we'd eat it in front of the tv. Now, I put out a decorative placemat, set a place setting and light the candles on the table. I bring all my food to the table and sit and 'dine'...whether it's Breakfast, lunch or dinner and even if it's just a Protein shake...and even if it's just me all by my lonesome. Eating has become an 'experience'. I love my Wood Wick candles because they have a flat wood wick that sounds like a crackling fire place when it burns. Very nice ambience.

Yes, I did see your post after I responded. I have a tendency to respond as I read. If I'd just read through a whole thread first I could've just said "Ditto". :smile2: So is losing weight slower because your BMI is lower the 'glass half full'...or the 'glass half empty'. .

Go to the User CP at the top of the screen and then on the left hand side there's a 'signature' option. Cut and paste the code from tickerfactory.com into your signature line. .

Just remember that not all liquids are the same and 8 oz does not always equal 1 cup. For example, 8 oz of oil does not equal one cup...it's more. A cup of molasses is actually less than 8 oz. Has to do with the specific gravity. It can make a huge difference in a recipe. Only with Water can you be certain that 8 oz = 1 cup. :smile2: .

They can tell how much they put in just because they know how much they put in. They can't tell whether or not you have 'restriction' because only you can tell them that based on your experiences afterward. I have a Realize Band which is 12 cc. According to my doc, 'most' people get restriction around 8...but it will vary with the individual. .

It's not what they *are* doing...it's what they are *not* doing. The band isn't a magic wand. Its just part of the equation. From my surgery to restriction (8 weeks), I lost about 8 pounds because I was still able to eat to excess. Obviously, since I lost 8 pounds, I was eating less than pre-surgery, but still obviously more than I should have. I've had restriction for about a week now and have lost 7 pounds just in that week. I can also tell that I'm eating much much smaller quantities than I did before, mainly because I can only eat about 1 cup of food in 20-30 minutes and at the end of that time, I'm actually content and stay content for 3-4 hours. I expect my weight loss will continue *IF* I continue to work with the band. If someone only loses 25 pounds in a year, post band, then either their band is not working (meaning they most likely need more fills to get to restriction) or they aren't (meaning they're eating slider foods or sweets. Oh, and by the way, I don't exercise...as in going to the gym or formally working out every day. My 'exercise' is having an active job where I'm moving for 5-6 hours a day (lifting, bending, walking, etc.) and then coming home to housework, gardening, shoveling snow and similar stuff. .

Six weeks. I took several weeks to interview the various bariatric doctors by going to their seminar. I didn't much care for them until the last one. I called up and they got me into a seminar they were having that day, even though it was technically 'filled', because I said I really wanted to move forward without delay. I have BCBS of MI and they don't require any of the BS that so many insurance companies do, just the psych eval. That actually took the longest...2 weeks...to get into a shrink for the eval. She had the report to them next day and they scheduled the surgery for 4 weeks later...again because I 'pushed' for it. I'm not a sit back and let things happen kind of gal. When I want something, I go after it. Same with my fills. That was actually one of the major points I looked at when choosing a doctor. Do they do fills according to some arbitrary schedule...or do they see me as an individual and will give fills as I need them. Now 9 weeks postop I am deliriously happy with the bariatric center I chose *and* have been at my sweet stop for a week...instead of the hell some people are still in 3 months after surgery. .

I had my surgery Nov. 3rd and my first fill of 3cc at 4 weeks postop. Another fill of 3 cc 2 weeks later and at 8 weeks I was at my sweet spot. Now at 9 weeks postop I'm finally losing. You'll most likely find that nothing is different after your first fill, depending on how little they put in. I'm fortunate because I have a doctor who lets me set the fill schedule based on my needs...not some silly set of printed guidelines. People do not have to go through bandster hell for endless weeks as if it's some sort of mandatory hazing ritual to be in the 'Lap band club'. If, after your first fill, you're still hungry and still able to eat in excess, call your doctor and tell them you want another fill. You should be able to get fills every 2 weeks until you have restriction. If they don't care and are only concerned with following their schedule, I'd look for a doctor who actually looks at their patients as individuals. Just my .02. .

Actually, it is normal and yes, everything is fine. My post op diet was different than many here. My doctor had me on each phase of the diet (liquids, purees, etc.) for only 2-3 days at each phase so by the end of two weeks I was back on regular foods so I didn't have to deal with the hunger that so many here have had to deal with. Unless your doctor put a fill in at surgery, and most don't, you will be able to eat anything you want...right up until you start getting fills and some type of restriction. I had two fills, 3 cc each at 4 weeks and 6 weeks post op and still had no restriction and could eat as much of anything that I wanted. Until I had restriction I didn't really worry too much about eating only 1 cup of food. I just tried to watch what I ate, making good choices and ate like a normal weight person. .

I don't use a scale...too much like dieting. Instead I use the visual guideline of 1 cup, recommended by my doc. Occasionally, I'll get out the measuring cups to make sure my visual interpretation is still on target, but usually I just eye it. .

I was back at work the day after surgery, never took pain meds and, except for the first day after the surgery, didn't need to lie down and take a nap or rest during the day. Three days after surgery I was back in my warehouse packing boxes (keeping my lifting restrictions) and moving around as I was prior to surgery. However, I'd draw the line at a concert because (a) you usually have to walk quite a distance from the parking lot to the door and then to your seat, possibly standing for long periods of time while you wait to get in and seated and (:smile2: get bumped in your port once by another person and all the enjoyment of the concert will be gone. Plus, at all of the concerts I've gone too, I've had to stand the entire time just to see since everyone else was on their feet. 2-3 hours of standing two days after surgery would've been a bit much. Just standing is far more tiring than walking around. So, no, I wouldn't go to a concert that soon.

It gets better each day. I'm a side sleeper and found that by the 2nd or 3rd night I could sleep on my 'right' side if I tucked a pillow under my belly to help support it. After about a week or so I could sleep on my left side if I did the same thing. .

When we drop below 1000 calories a day, the body starts becoming more efficient because it thinks it's starving. So it's possible *BUT* I wouldn't worry about it. Two weeks postop means you are still healing. This time is not about weight loss...it's about healing. It's not uncommon not to lose weight during this time. .

First, it's an old wives tale that it's not healthy to lose too much per week. I mean c'mon...first they tell you to eat only 1000 calories per day (when you've been eating 3-4,000) and exercise (when you've been sitting on your butt) and then tell you that you shouldn't lose more than 2 pounds per week. That's just stupid (and my sarcasm is not directed at you but the nutrition/diet 'experts'). The farther we are from our target weight, and the more drastically we cut our calories and the more active we become, the greater our initial weight loss. For example, a recent poster said she lost 100 pounds in 4 months. I'll bet if she continues what she's doing, she'll lose 100 pounds in the next couple of months too because she still has to lose over 200 pounds. However, the closer she (and we) get to our goal, the slower we will lose because the amount of calories needed to maintain that goal weight are not significantly different than the calories needed to maintain 50 or 60 pounds above that goal weight. Hope that makes sense. Second, if you're getting hungry after 3 hours, you 'might' need more fill. I normally drink a low carb, low cal Protein shake between meals just to keep my blood sugar stable so even after 4 hours I'm not really hungry although I know it's time to eat something. When I forget to drink the shake, I'm hungry about 3-4 hours after a meal. However, I've had to go back to my Protein Shake with milk and banana in it for Breakfast because I've found I'm so tight in the morning that food gets stuck.