Banannie

Hi Siyah! I'm in Kent and yes it's just gorgeous out! But it took me 2 hours and 15 minutes to get home from downtown Seattle last night - that's the part of the snow I don't like - on a normal day, that would have been a half hour drive, tops. For everyone who's stuck in a plateau on your weight - I was totally frustrated and stuck on my weight loss last week, too - actually went up 2 lbs. I was thinking HOW????? when I struggle to get 1000 calories some days. Well, my body had been holding onto Water, and this week, I'm down 6.4 lbs! So you know there's NO WAY I lost that much fat in one week. Plain and simple, the scale may not always move, as our bodies are wonderous and complicated things, but behind the scenes, if you really truly are doing things right, stuff is happening!!!!!! So watch what you eat (journal if you have to!), get your Protein, get your water, try to stay away from too many carbs, don't take in too much salt, get exercise, and IT WILL HAPPEN!!!!!!!! If you get stuck for a few weeks on the scale, you really need to honestly journal - measure and weigh your foods, as I know I ALWAYS overestimate my portions (and underestimate calories). I went through all the emotions, too - I remember crying over the stupidest thing a few weeks after surgery, and probably was a little depressed. Think of it - you body is confused. You not only have DRASTICALLY changed what you put in it, you let someone cut into it! Think of how your body feels - I can picture it throwing it's hands up in the air and saying "what are you doing to me???" So it's no wonder it's contributing to odd moods... I'm feeling pretty darn good now, and I'm at 4 weeks today, so it does get better!!

Steph - My mushies requirement was soft foods as well, so I've done similar - yogurt, cottage cheese, super soft meats, lots of scrambled eggs and egg beaters, etc. I'm just afraid of PB-ing cuz I hate throwing up! Good info on the lunch meat. I may try a little chicken with teriyaki, BBQ or hot sauce so it's moist... and veggies! I couldn't think of a way to get soft veggies while on mushies and for the first time ever ever ever I actually want some green beans! (I'm normally the one who avoids veggies...)

So all of you on real foods, what were the first things you tried? I'm so used to yogurt and cottage cheese, I don't even know where to start!!!

Sweethot, you've just had the worst luck! I can't believe they're doing crazy stuff to you yet again. I'd DEFINITELY tell them the weight loss has stopped, you're starving, and insist on a fill in a reasonable time frame!

BK - I was banded on the 14th and get to go to solids TOMORROW! (4 weeks out). Kay - MOM is wonderful, but it certainly messes my system up for a day or so. If you don't take enough for how much you're "full" nothing happens. If you take too much, you get a complete blowout, your whole system just gurgles, and you visit the bathroom A LOT. I've used it a couple of times since surgery and it's been a big help, but don't do it if you can't be near a bathroom! It's not like you're not going to get to the bathroom in time, it's not that bad, but you'll have to go quite a bit.

Thanks everyone for all your reports on your fills (and how they're "low pain" for us weenies!) Much appreciated!

Kdaly - there are LOTs of support groups in the greater Seattle area - there's a list on yahoo just for them! It's the PNW Bandsters groups on yahoo.com - sign up, and you'll automatically get reminders for the groups! It's not a chat-list, that's more the "parent" yahoo list of SmartBandsters. All you'll get is reminders for "Soup nights" which are 100% support groups! Check it out!!

Steph, I'm totally fearing the day when the handful of people I did tell ask me that question - I only told a small group of people (and all of you!) in the hopes to avoid it. I think my emotions are still a little frazzled from this experience and the changes in food/lifestyle so I hope I don't freak out the first time it's asked!!! And I agree - I want this to be a lifestyle change, a LASTING change, so I can't look at it as another diet!!! Annie Banannie

Oooh, Nat, tell me more about the book! I should buy that one... if you think it's helpful!

Hi Audree! I have the strawberry Kiwi and it's good! I also have the nectar Naturals Peach and really like that as well. I want to try the Apple, glad someone else thought it was ok, I'll probably try that next. I'd had some chocolate stuff that I've used for years and thought it was ok, then I tried the Nectar, and I can't stomach the Chocolate! Annie

Steph, Mederma is stuff you put on scars to supposedly make them smaller or less noticable. It's not super cheap so I got a small tube, and my scars are healing well - I have no idea if the Mederma is helping. I've never had surgery before so I was hoping someone else had, and had tried it! Little white scars on a white belly is good, vs. pink or reddish ones! Maybe next year I'll bare my belly more so it's not so pale!

Just curious, has anyone tried Mederma and does it work? My surgeon didn't seem to have a preference, and didn't think it did much. I'm a total white girl so any help I can get is GOOD! Also, we don't see much sun here in the Seattle area this time of year...

Nat, as always, you're cracking me up. Just know that we all luv ya so don't get sucked into drama - we luv ya just the way you are, even if others don't! BK - I'm SO glad you're ok! What a scary time, I'm glad it wasn't too serious! I love this thread, too, but will contribute and read the other, as there are a lot of new folks that are in the shoes we were in a few weeks ago, and they can certainly use our support! I'm also one that hopes the drama is over! OH! And I finally got over my "plateau!" I'm SO relieved... literally! The past two days I feel like I've been peeing out my ears - for some reason my body was retaining gobs of Water and just let it all go - I'm down 4lbs in 2 days, which certainly helps with my mental state! Still gotta find my tape measure and do measurements, though, even if they're not from "day 1." You all are right - the scale is evil and measurements can help through the plateaus! Happy Sunday to everyone!

ddee, did the fill hurt? I'm such a whimp and hate needles (I couldn't even bring myself to watch the video...)

Kay, you do have a cute booty! Keep up the gym work, you're inspiring me!

Hey all! Since many of us are "blessed" with still being able to do decent sized bites of food, but now's the time to retrain our brains as when we get our fills, we'll have to be more diligent about small bites and chewing! Someone suggested to me to not only use salad-sized plates, but child silverware. I ordered some, and will let people know how it goes! (btw, if you order some, the baby sized is too small, get the child's size) http://www.oneida.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/product.browse/categoryID/0b68c814-072f-4fe0-af14-9b85c9b6799c/ Annie

The doc is saying 6-12 months to fully recover - ick! But, losing weight should help everything heal faster since I'll have less pressure on it! I'm just bummed mainly because I am the type that can tolerate going to the gym and working out, and between my foot and being careful after getting my band, it's severly limited what I can do. Bummers! But, it's getting better every day, so I'm hopeful this will all be behind me soon (but with less of a "behind!") And Nat - I haven't been to Wild Ginger but keep hearing such good things about it! I'll have to go check it out sometime! Annie

Well, I had plantar fasciitis and was getting steroid/cortisone shots in my heel for that, which contributed heavily to my "traumatic rupture" of my plantar fascia ligaments! They forgot to emphasize with me how much the shots weakened the ligaments - so I ended up with the rupture. At least it was a good story - I was running away from a friend trying to dump champagne on my head after a car race I was in when the rupture happened! He felt really bad but I knew it was just bad timing that it happened when he was chasing me... Oh, and I live in the Seattle area and it happened in Topeka! Now that wasn't much fun...

I'm good with either the forum or a yahoo group - I just signed up there - thanks Kirsten for giving us that option! Annie

Great idea Nat - I'm letting the scale rule me right now, and I agree, measurements can be your best friend! One time a number of years ago I started working out big time with lots of weight training right when I started trying to lose weight, and in 6 weeks I only dropped 6 lbs. I was frustrated to no end! What happened is I was gaining muscle faster than I was losing fat and the measurements told me what I already knew - I was shrinking big time! I was down two sizes in those 6 weeks so I knew the scale didn't tell the whole story. I'd hurt my foot back in September (tore the ligaments off my heel bone, ouch!) and just got out of the cast right around my surgery date. So I've been completely immobile for months - couldn't take the stairs, was on crutches for a long time then couldn't walk far... so now that I'm out of the cast and getting more active again (and trying to go to the gym, but I'm not a steady at that, yet, due to my foot!) I'm sure I'm starting to regain some of my muscle. So, tonight, I measure!

Nat - THANKS for the tuff luv... just what I needed today!

Hi to all my December bandsters steadies! I'm so discouraged today as the scale inched UP! I think it's getting close to that darn TOM thing, though, as I've struggled to eat even 1000 calories! So, not a steady loser today, but I'll still be y'all's steady! Annie

If GNC doesn't carry nectar, it's all over the internet, like here: http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/syn/nectar.html I have the strawberry Kiwi and the Nectar Naturals Peach. Both are pretty good!

Eric - I'd call your doc and see if they'll ok Protein shakes for you. Other options that most doctors consider "clear" liquids is chicken broth - which has at least a miniscule amount of protein. If you're weak, though, the doc may ok Protein Shakes. Athina - look around at GNC - there are lots of other protein shakes that have a higher protein content. The one I use is nectar and it tastes kind of like a fruit juice - it's certainly tolerable and almost pleasant. It has 23 grams of protein, no carbs at all, for a scoop (90 calories). Annie

Did anyone else's weight loss come to a screeching halt when they went to mushies? I lost weight pre-op, also post-op on liquids, but since I went to mushies last Thursday, I've stalled. I struggle to get even 1000 calories, so I'm not sure if it's Water retention from having more salt/sugar in real foods, or if my body's hit starvation mode due to the low calories. Argh! This is SO frustrating! Luckily, I'm hardly hungry which is part of the problem - I forget to eat! I know I'm lucky and it likely won't last, but I'm enjoying it right now! Annie