kll724

I agree with Bluekerry. You can add Benefiber to any liquid or even to hot cereal. I have even added it to a smoothie. Over time, it becomes a natural thing. But, don't allow yourself to get to dependent on stool softners or Milk of Magnesia. Good luck. Karen

Hurray! I agree take weight loss in steps. Baby steps are good. I am, also, at my pre-baby weight, which was 36 years ago. In April 2009, I weighed in at 244, as of March 2011, I am 144 and holding! Congrats to you! Karen

I, on the other hand, find that maintaining is much harder than loosing the weight. I have been battling with myself, too loose, too tight, fill slight unfill for the last 4 months. I seem to have finally hit the spot where I feel good and can stay the same give or take a pound. I have 3 cc in my 11 cc band and it feels like I may keep that where it is at. Congrats on your great weight loss. I am sure that you feel and look 100% better. Keep yup the good work and you will be at GOAL in no time. Karen

I am, also sorry Algurl; I understand how hard it was for you. How thoughtless of your Mum. She, obviously, forgot about how nice you were to her when she had her surgery. Give yourself a break, and her. Lose the excess weight and smile; smiles don't show how much you are hurting inside. But, you can be the victor over the pain! Go for it, you are heading in the right direction, now. Good luck. Karen

Me too! You are wise, and sounds like wiser than the doctors office staff. My surgeon will tell me to not hold off if I can't get food to stay down. 1 hour to eat a meal is too long, he says no longer than 45 mins. My daughter will nurse her meal all afternoon. She, also, was not loosing weight. Since she has now stopped eating after 45 mins, she is loosing weight. You know your body better than the surgeon does. Listen to it! Goodluck on your weight loss. Karen

Hi Skiddles and all, I was reading this and thought i would join in. Skiddles, you are a lot braver than my husband. I am afraid that one day he might end up like your mother. He is afraid of surgery, and he has lost 2 siblings during the same. Anyway, back to the topic. I don't eat much bread. I can tolerate toasted bread, and bread sticks. I can't tolerate steak of any kind. I eat my fruit as part of a smoothie. I eat some veggies, but they have to be well done. Can't eat veggies from a restaurant, as, usually, they are crispy. I can eat the tops of asparagus, and broccoli. I can not eat diced tomatoes. So, if we are having chili, I have to ask my husband(who is the cook), to not use the diced tomatoes. I can't eat salad at all. I have found that there are some things that I chew and have to spit out into a napkin. You are not condemned to never eating things you like, you just have to find what your band and diet will tolerate. AND stay away from your food triggers. They can be your biggest enemy. Mine is chocolate. I can't eat it as it cause me to overeat it. Good luck to us all. Karen

I paid in advance, because my psychologist did not take insurance. Her office submitted for me, and I received the reimbursement. Not sure if that is the same reason as others, but that was mine. Also, she has a deal with the surgeon's office and charges lower price for CASH! Karen

My son has just finished his 6 month diet, and had to get the records for last 2 years from his Family practioner, but he was approved within 1 week of the insurance company receiving his records. he has Aetna, and is border-line, but has 1 co-morbidy. He has high bloods pressure. He is 40 BMI exactly.But, I am sure that he was not that high for the last few years, so good luck. They may except you if you have those co-morbidy they want. Karen

You are to be congratulated, 100 lbs is great and not something to be ignored. I know you are proud of your loss. Keep up the great work. Karen

Congratulations on being cancer free. You are a very wise woman and I am sure will follow doctors advice. Good luck with your future heath. Karen

Congratulations Tracie. You are doing a great job. Keep up the good work, you will be under 300 before you know it. Karen

Be careful that you don't get pancreatitis now. I got it 3 weeks after my gallbladder was removed because I had stones tuck in my duct. I was a lot sicker then than with my gallbladder. I was in hospital for overnight with gallbladder and 3 days with pancreatitis, and I ended up having jaundice, too! Good luck to you! Karen

I use salad plates and have from the start of my diet, after seeing the nutritionist. She was the one that suggested that. It makes me not feel deprived. I use the bread plate at restaurants,but find it to not have a small fork to use when going out. I, always, use a dessert fork at home. It reminds me to eat slower and smaller bites. I, also, have used a toddler fork and spoon when 1st starting out. Karen

Get some pineapple juice. Drink a little, see if that helps. If not, try some warm tea. I have had a small pill stuck, it is bad, hope you feel better soon. Karen

I was allowed hard candies to suck on. Try a lollypop, it might help the need to have something in your mouth. I remember that I used Dumdums and other rock candy. Good luck, you can get through it. Karen....Happy Independence Day!

Yes, angel hair was something I used to love. Now, it is the #1 one pasta I stay away from. I don't eat much pasta, but definitely not angel hair. I think it kind of slides down and gets caught. Yuck! Glad you feel better, but I, also, caution folks to be aware that 1/2 cc makes a big difference. I had to have 1st a 1/2 c taken ot, and then again, another because I was GERD'ing all night long. After the 2nd one, lost the GERD problem. Good luck, everyone. Karen

Happy bandiversary! You made a year and going strong. And if you hadn't had your band would you have lost what you did? I know my answer is "NO". You are doing great. Congrats and keep up the good work. Karen

Congrats to both of you for your weight loss success! I have a neighbor that I met about 6 months ago. He came up to me and asked one time if he could ask me a question. He said someone else had said I used to be very big, how had I lost all my weight? (He need to loose about 50 lbs). I was totally truthful and told him I had weight loss surgery. He was interested and asked more questions. But, I did tell him that it is not anything but a tool to HELP loose the weight. I like your story about your husband's Grandma! Very cute and makes her more lovable! Karen (PS: I have lost 100 lbs).

Me too! Then I know, if I try to finish, I will be too full!

Hurray for meeting your 1st goal. Keep up the good work. Karen

I, also, started journaling to keep track of my calories. It drove me nutty. I am doing portion control. I use a salad or dessert plate for my meals. I use a salad fork to eat with..I started, originally, using a toddler fork, but then a switched to a salad type. I have been at this for 2 years so can pretty much know what I am able to eat. For instance, I might have 1 piece fish, a small scoop of veggies, and a 1/2 cup of cottage cheese for my dinner. It still makes the salad plate look big, but my stomach, and head, know that that is all I can eat. Good luck with whatever keeps you "sane" and helps you loose. Karen

Stuck is yucky! I am not sure what they would do for you at the after hours emergency. Probably advise you to try pineapple juice to make it go down or come up. Anyway, glad you feel better! Roast beef, steak, etc.. is the worst meat you can eat, it is hard to chew up and digest. My surgeon suggests staying away for red meat. I had my 1st stuck episode and then very bad pb'ing after eating roast beef. Yucky!!! Good luck, Karen

I have to have my coffee in the morning to wake up! I use skim milk as I don't care for the taste of black coffee. If I drink it black, I have to add sweetener. I, usually, during the evening will make myself an ice coffee at home, as I was going out to get it from McDonald's or Starbucks. I enjoy coffee, and drank it black when I was on clear liquids. I tried drinking clear tea and it doesn't do it for me! Everything in moderation. Karen

Yeah! Congrats on your loss. Karen

Good luck, you can do it! Sleep after while you recover. Karen