Betsyjane

I didn't tell anyone but hubby at first...and my PCP who reacted like an idiot. I found, though that after I got the band, I started telling a few people here and ther, but when I did, I gave a long explanation so they wouldn't be expecting the weight the melt within a month and keep asking me. You'll begin to get a comfort level with telling some folks, and a sense of who won't be stoooopid about it.

Our table will have a sign on it that says BANDSTERS. And it will be near the entry.

I just don't get it. Not knowing you, who are we to tell you to leave him? That's a huge decision, hopefully based on more that just internet info. Go see a counselor and talk it out. Weigh it carefully and then decide for yourself. If a bully has made decisions for you, it isn't going to help if we do the same thing. YOU make this decision, in your own best interests.

Aw, I think DSM-IV will make you crazy. all diagnosis and no treatment or help suggestions. There was a book about and for Borderline PD-if it's still around it was in paperback-called "I Hate You, Don't Leave Me".

muscle milk shakes, not powder. Yummmmmmm. Starting to be carried by Krogers for $6.50 for 4. GNC here just went up to $11 for 4.

You're smart to gather alot of info first anyway. I thought I did, but I had sooo much to learn. Here's hoping for the pile o' money!

Hey! I'm over a third of the way to my goal! (But I'm gonna set a new goal then....)

I get 65 minimum, and shoot for 100. When I'm doing shakes, I have no probelm getting to 100. I get less when I'm on regular food. Hey lo2us.... what are your hesitations about the band?

I'll have to say this...Although there have been moments when I didn't know if this band was going to work, they have been very few. I'm tickled..and frankly, the continual education keeps life interesting....

I didn't have to be on a liquid diet before surgery. i didn't have to do anything except schedule it! I think that's because I was self pay and had no insurance co. looking in, and because my Dr. just doesn't require much in advance. After the surgery, there really was no portion control. I had to try to drink enough calories a day to get in enough protein. Same with mushies after that. I started right away on a chewable vitamin (solotron from GNC or centrum from the grocery) and chewable calcium (Vivactin chocolate-yum!) and I'm still on them. I still drink Muscle Milk if I'm not getting in enough protein. It really hasn't been a big deal. What IS a big deal to get psyched up about is that since being banded in November, I've lost an average of 2 pounds a week!

I agree. I don't think I'd lose on portion control alone, although I see thqt some folks do. You know, I've been this way since childhood, now that I think about it. Rush rush rush stop. My mother said even when I was in kindergarten, I wa sin with a class of super brains (for kindergarteners). Really top top kids. I would go at 100% intensity and keep up and excel, and then stop and not even go to school for a day or 2 to recouperate, and then right back at it. I've done that all my life in lots of ways. And now with weight loss, even though I pretty much eat and exercise the same way each day...the weight drops drastically and then stops drastically. I wonder if personality or personal style correlates with the way in which weight drops......

I miss Barbara. How dare her employer take away everybody's internet time! Is anybody else still out there? where's our norhteast group? where are our Beaumont teachers? Sniff......

Me too. Smooth foods get me in trouble and are so good. I really think for me, if I don't count calories, I won't make it. I'm not obsessive...just generally round up and add. It becomes an issue for me when I'm so tight I need a slider to get the food down. then I'm tempted to cheat. I think a "diet" or "healthy eating" is going to always have to be a part of it for me, as well as portion control. But...here's my oddity of the day. I CAN'T EAT MUCH IF I SLOUCH! I CAN EAT ENOUGH SITTING STRAIGHT IN A DINING ROOM CHAIR. I CAN HARDLY EAT ANYTHING IF I'M SLOUCHING ALOT IN AN EASY CHAIR! I suppose that mechanical thing is similar to what Barbara said...being able to sometimes get stuck thing down by raising my arms over my head. I guess if I feel like I'm going to pig out, I need to go slouch and eat!

I have to be so weirdly vigilant. Example: Most days I can't do anything but drink my calories until around noon to 2PM. Today, I had a shake. Just got hungry to the point of slightly light headed, and ate (slowly) a can of tuna. a whole can. And it's only 10:30AM. that's so unusual. So now I'm up to 500 calories already today. So I need to have a light late lunch and then dinner. I'll be perfectly fine, but it's not my usual no brainer routine. I just have to keep an eye on everything. It's not as obsessive as just eating all day used to be, but I have to keep a part of me separate, as a watchdog. Oh, here's another odd one. I can't eat much if I slouch in an easy chair. I can eat enough if I sit up straight in a dining room style chair. and I can sometimes unstick a stuck thing if I hold my arms straight over my head. (Barbara taught me that one.) It's still a learning curve. For me, general calorie awaremness and counting helps. Eating healthy things helps. Portion control helps. I don't think I'd lose any weight with portion control alone or I'd be eating lots of bacon, cheese, ice cream... I doubt if I'd lose if I went to Mexican restaurants much, or if I drank alcohol. Hate to waste the calories. But I know people who do portion control and eat and drink that stuff and are doing well!

Yerah but this is more of a theoretical thing. Do you consider yourself on a diet or on portion control or both? I've heard arguments in all directions. Thanks for the congrats. i have gone so many weeks without any loss, that I must be dropping a ton and then stalling out as my pattern.

I just counted up the weeks since my surgery, and the weight lost, and I'm at an average of 2 pounds a week! I am so surprised. I thought I was slow as molasses...darn...another food reference. I'm trying to dump those! It certainly hasn't been steady...far from it, but it's nice to see the average. Ok. Here's my debate with myself. Dr. Spivak says cheese is fat and we shouldn't have it. but i see bandsters eating enchiladas and doing well. The debate is....should we eat like normal people and rely on protion control, or should we diet?

I have a cheese question. Dr Spivak says cheese is just fat and we don't need it and shouldn't want it. So I'm back to the debate again. Should we eat normal meals and do portion control, or should we diet?

Marni-After my surgery I lost weight because I was inflammed. then it stopped. After my first fill, nothing happened. After my second fill, I felt some restriction and I wasn't eating as much but I could still eat anything...just didn't feel like eating as much. it was really vague, but I thought the rest was up to me. After my third fill, i began the life of a bandster. Some people take even more fills to get it and some take less or none to get it. Don't hesitate to get to the sweet spot so you can do the work! I'm learning nonstop about my new life now.

All I can say is that the negativity is meaningless to me when I can wake up-like this morning-and see the scale down 2 pounds!

My guess is that they CAN say that kind of stuff, although I don't know why they would bother. They can certainly tell a Dr. if someone is getting pain meds from other Drs....

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/post-op-checklists-t14814.html

Jodi: I have alot of respect for what you are doing. That's hard feedback to take to heart. And harder to act on. I'm impressed with you. If the counselor wants you to see a shrink, ask the counselor to refer you to someone who is cheap. Every county in Texas has an MHMR with sliding scale psychiatrists, and the counselor will know if there are other options. Don't give up the good fight.

I don't get it. Lunch meat, feta cheese, and porterhouse steaks sound way high calorie. On South Beach (I don't know South Beach) can you eat any protien? I remember when I did the beginning of Atkins way back when I ate any protein (lots of bacon) and initially lost weight but then not so much. i thought low fat was still the way to go regardess. I need education! Denise-I've been there. What are you eating in a normal day?

I sometimes THINK I'm missing chowing down...until I take the first bite. Then I'm fine again and can't imagine eating a whole plate full. Food tastes better in my head than it does in my mouth. Once you're banded, though so many many things start to change. You won't miss food as much as you might think because you're so busy trying to perfect this juggle of eatting property. some days I can do it without breaking a sweat. Other days I'm counting calories, fat, carbs, protions sizes, number of chews, amount of exercise...because I have to do all the structural things on unmotived days, just to get back with it. so I guess I'm stilll new enough that I've replaced my food obsession with, er, food obsession.

Hi. Congrats on starting your journey! Go to the main page of lapband talk and scroll down near the bottom, to the local USA groups. Find your area and you'll be able to read what people say about your local physicians. You might pick several first consult seminars to go to and see who you like. Join up with the group online in your area and find out if they nmeet as a support group. If so, start going. You are beginning such a huge learning curve that it's best to gather the support troops from the beginning! you'll begin to find that you let go of people who just say to exercise more and eat less, and you'll start hanging with people who get it that morbid obesity is complex, and who can cheer you on. Believe me, we all started where you are! Use this site to ask a gazillion questions as you go along, and read read read. Have fun!