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My doctor advises his patients not to ever drink carbonated beverages again because they can stretch the pouch above the band (that includes beer). As for me, I am not much of a drinker to begin with, so not drinking wine or other alcohol is not a big deal to me. I would probably avoid alcohol anyway because it really doesn't fit in well with living a healthier lifestyle as a bandster--liquid empty calories are not really the way to go. You should check with your doctor and follow his/her instructions about carbonated beverages! Good luck!

You know...I don't know about all of you, but I grew up watching not only Sesame Street, Captain Kangaroo, and Romper Room, but Looney Tunes cartoons too. Remember how Wile E. Coyote was constantly cooking up crazy schemes to catch and eat the Road Runner using explosives and other materials ordered from ACME? :boom:How Elmer Fudd was always hunting Wabbit? I haven't run around murdering people and I don't hunt down fluffy wabbits either (yet...but if I get hungry enough...hmmm--watch out rabbit! LOL!). :Bunny What about watching The Three Stooges? We all watched that and didn't whack each other in the head with typewriters or poke each others' eyes out! The difference back then was we were actually allowed to think and reason as children and we managed to figure out all by ourselves what was fantasy and what was reality. All this namby-pampy "protection" that is being imposed is dumbing down our kids IMHO. Censoring Sesame Street--give me a break!!!

Hi! I had four impacted wisdom teeth removed eons ago (in my young and foolish days--I think I was 17 years old). They knocked me out and I had them removed in the hospital. The best piece of advice I got was when the oral surgeon said to ice the sides of my face/jaw several times per day. Other folks who had the same surgery and didn't listen looked like chipmunks! Hee, hee!

Which means that it's even easier to get in all the fluid you need in a day! :clap2:

Hi there! What you're all feeling is common to most post-op bandsters! If you aren't already keeping a food journal, it's a really good idea. A simple log of what you ate, grams of Protein and carbs can work wonders. Really make sure that you're selecting the appropriate foods (not junk that slides down easily, like ice cream). A lot of doctors recommend eating lean Proteins first, then veggies because you'll feel full longer. If you have a diet plan from your doctor, this is a good time to double-check that you're following all of his/her recommendations. Keep track to make sure you're getting in your 64 ounces of Water per day in between your three meals. That will help you not feel as hungry and keep you hydrated at the same time! I hope this information proves helpful! I feel your pain and I know if I made it through "bandster hell" so can you!

I picked up cross-stitching again although I don't work on it every day. There are always things to get done around the house as well. I'd have to agree with Jachut--I'm finding that I'm not hungry, so eating due to boredom is less and less of an issue for me!

I forgot to mention that I freeze "band-sized" portions of meals so I can enjoy them again another time! That seems to work out well because there's only myself and my son in the house. I can make something different for him if necessary and have something handy for me!

I guess I'm the exception to the rule--always the "weird one!" I still love food, enjoy cooking, and haven't lost interest in eating. I like to experiment with foods to see what combinations I can come up with that are tasty and easy to eat without experiencing any discomfort. I think I appreciate good food even more than before I was banded mainly because I am now forced to actually chew and taste the food rather than inhaling it like a Hoover vacuum clearner! I think a lot of bandsters go through almost a period of grief over the loss of the ability to eat the way they always have in the past (too much, too fast). Your head has to adjust to a new way of approaching eating. Once that happens, you will find out that eating to live (i.e. the good foods you need in reasonable amounts) is much better than living to eat! Good luck--you can do this!

Hi there! I've never felt anorexic after being banded, just better under control once I got an appropriate fill. If you don't eat the nutrients your body needs, you'll wind up with other problems that can be caused by malnutrition (loss of hair, etc.). Try to get yourself onto a regular eating schedule--follow the eating plan provided by your doctor. I hope you feel better soon!

Hi there! Congratulations on getting your surgery done! Gas-X saved me a whole lotta pain! Of course, check with your doctor to make sure it is cool with him/her. I hope your recovery goes oh-so-smoothly!!!

I like being spanked...:faint: OOPs--must have the wrong thread! Just kidding! :guess

So ridiculous! Where are our psychology majors to explain how someone develops such warped thinking? Perhaps by being dropped repeatedly on your head as a child?? I noticed that, too. I guess it's better to ignore their problems with food and get sympathy for not doing well, rather than tackle the issues head-on and do something about them! You gotta keep movin' if you want to keep losin'!

Here's the latest news about the English teacher: Thousands in Sudan Call for British Teddy Bear Teacher's Execution FOXNews.com - Thousands in Sudan Call for British Teddy Bear Teacher's Execution - International News | News of the World | Middle East News | Europe News Sigh! How can the name given to a fluffy little teddy bear possibly justify mobs of people protesting that it would be a wonderful thing to put a woman to death? I'm just sayin'.....

How did this thread get so outta control while I wasn’t looking??? Geez, you don’t check in for a few days and look what happens when y’all are left to your own devices! :eek: It is? Is this where I've been going wrong all these months?? WTF?? Time for me to get out there and find an ABC store! :beer: Heaven forbid we celebrate the successes of others…but no, we must gnash our teeth and stomp our feet and curse the very existence of those who have achieved great things! Boo hoo hoo! I wouldn't have removed the picture. Be proud of what you've done. Those who are green with jealousy just need to get over themselves! It's fascinating how all of our experiences and background knowledge suddenly vaporizes and becomes meaningless in the eyes of some who choose not to heed such sage advice! :lalala: I am SO totally grossed out now—maybe having supper tonight isn’t such a bright idea any more??? Man I really missed the boat on THAT one, too! I’m holding out so I can join the “second marriage is for money” club! :car: Are you kidding me? Who has the time to do something like that??? :noidea: Laurend—behave yourself, now! Besides, the "baiting" scenario shouldn't happen ever again since all of your posts are being blocked from those you offend ….right? I'm just sayin'.... :biggrin1:

Eeeeeewwwwww!! :faint:

Hi there! I chose the lapband because the surgery is less invasive. It is reversible if any problems do arise. I didn't feel that my medical problems were so severe that I needed to go through the bypass surgery. The lapband is also adjustable, so it can be deflated should I become pregnant or develop cancer for example (heaven forbid on both of those scenarios! LOL!). Finally, I also wanted to lose at a reasonable rate of 1-2 pounds per week. I was fortunate that my surgical experience was free of complications and I have been pretty successful so far this year. I'm getting closer to my 1-year goal of losing half of the total weight I need to lose. Those are my reasons for choosing the band. Do your homework and be sure to make the right decision to choose the procedure that will best meet your unique needs! Good luck!

I'm ashamed to admit that my hometown in New Hampshire is an hour away from the "great" state of Massachusetts...sigh! Things have been going downhill there IMHO since I left several years ago. Wonder what they will regulate next? Hmmm....

Hi Everyone! VABandster--I am praying for you and I have my fingers and toes crossed, etc. I really hope the interview goes well AND that the company is a good fit for you!!! Sweethot143--I was so happy to hear that your DH didn't have to deploy (not happy about him needing knee surgery though...ick)! Congrats on the Bodybugg--let us know how it works out for you! :clap2: Boo--So sorry to hear about the hubby troubles. I don't like being divorced (I don't like my ex-DH either LOL!), so I'm hoping that the two of you will be able to make a go of it. Of course, if you ultimately decide that everyone involved is miserable, there probably isn't any use beating a dead horse so to speak. :deadhorse: I guess I'll choose to be optimistic at this point! As Tim Gunn would say, "Make it work!" :biggrin1: StephC--Your after picture is wonderful--get out of the way--hot stuff coming! Great job getting your decorating done! Woohoo!!! Things are going pretty well this week for me. My DS is adjusting to doing school work at home. We're focusing on Sophomore English right now. He's been amazed to discover how much grammar information he never learned in school. Hopefully, I can patch up those deficits so he can pass the entrance exam at the local community college. He wants to either get his GED or be dual enrolled for high school and college credits at the same time. The other bit of good news is that my DS will have his very first job interview this weekend! There's a neighborhood grocery store about 5 minutes away from home that burned down last year. The new building is just about ready to re-open after rebuilding so they need to hire some new people. He sent in an on-line application last weekend for a job stocking shelves and got an e-mail back today requesting dates/times when he'd be available to interview! I hope he gets a job because he can walk or ride his bike back and forth from home (he's only 15, so he doesn't drive yet). Hang in there everyone!

Wow! It's a good thing I got banded! At least now I can't fit all of that crap into my stomach! Phew! If people were given the information so they were better informed, maybe the obesity rate would go down? Or maybe we'd all just scarf it all down anyway because it's so good? LOL!

Let's just say that I already resemble a Shar-Pei and I'm not quite halfway to goal yet....

It's too bad that those who are angry can't view the children's act of naming their beloved teddy bear Mohammed as a tribute or an honor, rather than blasphemy. The punishment seems a bit harsh to me when compared to the "crime," but what do I know about such things? :noidea:

Boy, do I feel your pain, too! Naturally, I couldn't possibly lose any more weight off of my big old "Buddha belly"...my boobies are shrinking instead! Like there was much to lose to begin with (snark!) I'm going to look like I have two half-empty beanbags Velcroed to my chest when I'm done losing weight! ACK!

I love it! Great sense of humor! I really need a good giggle today! :biggrin1:

Hi Ashlee! I'm in Newport News, VA--not too far away from you! Good luck with your surgery! I hope you come through it with flying colors! Keep us up-to-date on your progress!

Well stated Wendell! :whoo: Thanks for continuing to share your "sage" advice!