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I am addicted to ice cream too. I lost 100 pounds initially... had some complications (gallbladder surgery, port leak, port replacement) and I let it all go to ****. I gained 50 back and have been hovering at the same weight now for a long time. Unlike you, I DID have an addiction to ice cream pre-band, but thought if that was the ONE thing I had to do myself, I could do it. Well... it is REALLY hard. I am back to eating a pint of Ben & Jerry's a night. Sometimes more. I easily eat 1000-1200 calories a day in ice cream. I just recommitted myself 2 days ago. I have been ice cream free for 2 days. Sounds silly... but seriously, that is huge for me!! I am relearning how to work with my band instead of around it. No more drinking when eating. No more slider foods. And no more ice cream!! For me, I have to completely ban ice cream from my life. When I lost the 100 pounds my first year... I was not eating ANY. I understand that skinny people eat ice cream, and chips, blah blah. Moderation blah blah. Well I am not, nor have I ever been a skinny person. I can't just have 1 scoop. I always want more. My brain never stops wanting more. I crave it. I obsess about it. The only way I could control it is to treat it like an alcoholic would alcohol. I cannot have any. Never. Not one scoop. Not one bite. Not one lick. Once I have it, it snowballs. I have been in pretty bad sugar withdrawals the last two days... but I am hanging in there. I did it before, I can do it again. Yesterday I was obsessing about a turtle sundae from Culvers. I wanted it. I was telling myself, just this one last time. Just once more. Start tomorrow. Well I have been telling myself that for over a year. And where has that gotten me? I went home and had a Protein shake instead. I was pissed. Unsatisfied. Angry. But after those initial feelings passed I was so proud of myself for hanging in there. Today was a little easier. Tomorrow will be a little easier. HANG IN THERE. You just have to keep reminding yourself of your goals. Why you had this surgery. Don't throw it all away for 10 minutes of pleasure. It is a wicked, awful, nasty cycle. You can do it. Drive a different route. Don't pass Sonic. Don't keep ice cream in your freezer. Treat it like an addict. You cannot have it. Period. Give it a shot. Best of luck to you. I am there with you. You are not alone.

Splenda is basically glucose with a bunch of alcohols binded to it so the enzymes that break down glucose don't recognize it, therefore it won't get digested.

I had a thigh lift with the groin incision. Basically the incision starts around mid thigh on the front (in the crease between abdomen and thigh) and goes all the way around the inside of my leg to mid buttock. The giant "smile" shaped pieces of skin were excised from each thigh. The remaining skin was separated from the fat, some of the fat was excised and then the skin was pulled up (like hose) and stitched. Honestly, it has been the most painful part of my procedures. You cannot escape the pain caused by merely moving your legs. Also, going to the bathroom is really complicted when you have incisions just below your butt cheeks. Ever since the procedure I have carried a small spray bottle of alcohol to spray all public toilet seats (hovering above them is not possible and using paper covers just sticks). I sure don't want an infection just because I have to go pee in the grocery store. I am still very swollen but can see a big difference already. I guess it boils down to the shape of your legs. I have seen people that look great after the vertical incision TL procedure and those that have bulgy looking knees. I would check with more than one PS because most surgeon's don't like to perform the non-vertical one. It is much more difficult for the surgeon and takes longer to recover and see the results.

I am so excited that my three month diet monitoring is completed I have an appointment with my doctor on monday and after that they will submit my information to my insurance then the wait for insurance approval I am hoping a praying that I get it because I have worked my butt off so far and I have never been more determined to loose this weight. I have quit smoking, stopped drinking soda, quit drinking alcohol, started exercising 3-4 days a week and started a whole new eating regimen. Being diagnosed with sleep apnea 2 months ago has really snapped me into reality. I can't wait until I am an official "bandster" even though I already feel like I am

After reading her story, how can society not consider food an addiction? All you have to do is substitute drugs or alcohol for her issues with eating and you have an addict same as an alcoholic or drug addict.

OK guys this is my experience with the following and what I have learned from my doctors. Some is my personal experience and some is factual about how the body works. If it rings true for you use it. If it doesn't then ignore it. 1. Carbonation: Does it cause erosion? Does it stretch the pouch? Or do we avoid it simply because it causes gas pains? Carbonation can stretch the pouch but it is a temporary situation. The carbonation stretches the pouch causing discomfort much like you would feel just before a PB episode. It also takes up space that would be filled with food. If you are one to drink carbonated beverages DO NOT drink them and try to eat. You could end up with a horrible PB event. BEEN there! I try to avoid carbonation not only for the reason stated above but for the empty calories that go along with them. One can of Dr. Pepper is really two servings. IT has, if I remember right, 250 calories per serving. WOW!!! If you drank the whole can it would be 500 calories just in the Dr. Pepper. Plus the sugar that goes along with the carbonation and calories. Bad stuffs!!!! 2. Alcohol: Does it cause erosion, or do we avoid it because it's empty calories? Alcohol can mess up your metabolism. I will post something more on this in a separate thread. (Learned some cool things in this conference I just attended). Alcohol and it's effects on judgement could possibly cause erosion and or slippage. When we drink we aren't as alert and aware of what we are doing, eating, or saying. LOL!!! So, alcohol can get us in trouble. The empty calories are a factor as well. Being banded we can't drink as much anyway. I know I can have one maybe two drinks now and I am affected. SO be careful guys. 3. Drinking before and after meals: How long to wait after eating? What are their reasons for these rules? Drinking right before a meal even right at the beginning of the meal is not a good idea. The liquid no matter what it is will dilute the digestive enzymes and slow the digestive process. This causes excess gas and bloating (more on that in a separate thread as well). I would wait at least an hour after a meal to drink. 4. NSAIDs - is there any new information regarding them causing erosion? NSAIDS or any medication, not necessarily NSAIDS, that can cause irritation of the stomach lining can put you at risk for ulcers forming which might lead to an erosion.

Australian doctors ( well, at least the ones at the clinic where I had my surgery) have no problem with carbonation. I have and continue to drink diet coke whenever I feel like it, except when I have too much restriction and cant even drink water fast enought, but thats another story. I was told when leaving jospital after surgery to start by drinking it flat, then mixing it with fizzy, then just fizzy. Hey I am against drinking the stuff anyway, and would reccomend to everyone that you should give it up, as should I, but I still drink it because sometimes, I just have to, and sometimes I must add scotch to it too. Alcohol is a nono, empty calories, but occasionally, in moderation, is like everything else. I am bad with the drinking, although was told NOt to drink 2 hrs after a meal. Before meals they encourage drinking ( here, as long as non caloric).

12/5/08 My first fill! Yeah! What a ton of weird feelings. I never had anyone walk me through what it was like to have a fill, so I am going to put it down here. Well first I should say that Dr. Kirshenbaum is the one that did my fill and every doctor is probably different. So I went in and they weighed me. I don’t mind getting on the scale as long as the numbers are going down. I went into the exam room and there was a sonogram machine on one side of the table. So I laid down on the exam table and the doctor came in and felt for my port. No problem. That was easy. He cleaned my tummy with alcohol and then betadine. He asked if I was ready and after I said yes her poked me with the syringe. It didn’t hurt at all. He worked on getting all the air out of the syringe/needle. I had a little stinging sensation a couple of times, but I think that was either the saline hitting the inside of the port or from the needle being in where I’m not used to having a needle. J He had 2 syringes. One had 1.7 of saline in it and the other had like 2.5 of saline. He put the 1.7 in my band and then had me stand up. So now I have a needle sticking out of my tummy. Yeah it was as weird as it seemed! I drank some water without any problem. So now he puts more saline in and says drink some more water. OMG! I it just stayed in my pouch. Just sat there! It felt so strange. I wanted to cough it up or something. He took out about .5cc and then no problem. Now we did the dance. He put in .4cc and I took a drink and there was a definite hesitation in my pouch and then a tiny burp down there and it drained. He took out .2cc and I could drink and a tiny hesitation and then it drained. He took out .1cc and no hesitation now. I can drink and it was just fine. 2.8cc for my first fill. I know the number is arbitrary, but still nice to know. I took food with me so I didn’t have to worry about what I was going to eat. It has been a habit that has been working pretty well. Even if DH and kids eat at McDonalds I have something to eat. So anyway I had some cottage cheese and chicken salad. No problem. I went to TGI Fridays and had a grilled chicken breast. Small mindful bites and no problem. I can’t believe that .10cc more and I would be too tight. That is only a couple of drops of saline. Amazing. I guess the band is much touchier than I thought. I think some doctors have set amounts for fill. (.5 for each one or something.) I’m glad Dr. K isn’t like that. Fill till restriction then pull back just enough. Sounds good to me. Oh then he pulled out the syringe. WEIRD!!!!! No pain though. I will go back January 9th for my second fill. I even got to meet someone from lapbandtalk.com! That was cool too. The girls in the office today recommended this thrift store for cheap in-between jeans. So I look for jeans and I finally see this one pair of petite jeans. There were a size 18P Sonoma brand for $4 so I thought I would get them and they can be a goal. I started in a size 22 and they are baggy, but my only jeans so I wore them today. So I just got home from Denver (7 hr drive) and I hold them up and say to myself that there is NO WAY, but I'll try and see how far I get...they will be my first pair of "goal jeans". Guess what...yep! THEY FIT!!!! Not comfy enough to lounge around the house, but I can wear them out if I want to. WOW! What a day. My first fill and this!

Frannypants, I missed you terribly. Babs and I had a rough time at the border, so by the time they let us through, she friggen ran me across to the US side as I begged her to slow down. She weighs about 90 pounds but even carried all our luggage just to get us to safety. We were both panting and exhausted and freaked out and then missed the freeway entrance. I even told Babs how bad I wanted to see you... sniff sniff. We had our sugery together... we're band-bonded silly! I regret my meeting with Ms. Don was so short and intense. Seriously, the whole Mexico experience had a permanent tape of "there's no place like home, there's no place like home" running through my head. After we got to the US side the tape finally flipped to "On the Road Again." Babs and I were exhausted. Donali, wouldn't it figure the first time I'm actually sleeping I get 2 calls? Chris called me an hour before you did! Yes, I'm normally up at that hour, but you try spending a weekend with that wild woman! Now I truly regret not going straight to my hotel room after the procedure instead of shopping, and because I'm so brilliant, partaking in beverages of the alcoholic nature. Dr. Kuri should have put me in a straight jacket till the good drugs wore off. But I couldn't help myself cuz I felt so damn good. Not only was that alien out of my body, but I likey mucho the shot. I hope I didn't screw myself up. Don't let Donali fool you guys either. Just cuz DeLarla wasn't pole dancing doesn't mean she wasn't tormenting Tijunana.... if you only knew! Uh, Donali, you forgot to tell them about the mariachis. Yes, I can now play the first several bars of Cielito Lindo en la guitar! After Lisa's surgery was over, DeLarla took over and by midnight was singing Mexican love songs at the top of her lungs at La Rocak, the bar across the street from the hospital. Sing with me... La cucarocha, la cucarocha, ya no puedo caminar.... DeLarla managed to con the guitarist to hand over the guitar and show her a couple things. Babs and I are both engaged to other men. About 4 each, so don't let Donali worry you that D's gone dull. Damn, how can I have a fever? Maybe I should just dial 911 already and demand a few R & R days in my local hospital, just for sport! Love, Fartypants.

Donali, take notice to the time I'm posting this... 2:30 a.m., which does not mean I'm ever, ever up at this hour (laugh here.) Yes, our friend, Susan, recalled many moons ago that we told her if she ever plans on driving drunk to please call us instead. At 1:44 a.m. she called falling-down-drunk, crying, blubbering "Lisa, appreciate your husband cause he loves you" 23 times. So Chris went to get her and she asked me to stay on the line till he got there. I had to laugh cuz I may partake in beverages of the alcohol persuasion from time to time, but I haven't been that drunk in years and remember the humiliating morning after. Poor Suzy. So here I am, getting in a quick post in the middle of the night, slurping on a lil Koolaid Jello... full from 1/4 cup. My fever is got to 100.9 but is down to 99.1. Not feeling too shabby considering I was waken up. Sore boo boo but feeling pretty good for 2am. Hubby home & thinks we should take advantage of one of Vegas's cheap 99cent Breakfast right now and nickles for the mamma! He calls me NickleFoFickle or Gambalina. Hell, my TJ adventure is beging extended, why not? So I'll see you guys at some other weird hour. Peace, babies!

It speaks well of your prospects that, despite no requirement, you chose to lose weight. Your mind is in a good place: You're serious. It goes without saying, which shan't stop me, that cutting out alcohol and the rest is smart. What raises a question is your saying that you're logging everything, but no word about what you are logging apart from the shakes. Sad to say, it is easy for counterproductive edibles to be going down your gullet. Consider an appt with the practice's RD to review a week or two of food logs. S/he can make suggestions for improvement. It's impressive that you chose to work on this. It probably makes you an exception. Although my bariatric practice had a loosey-goosey requirement (my insurance plan had none), my own surgeon told me that she didn't care whether I lost weight before surgery. A fool, I thought, "Oh, good, I'll start after." Three weeks, prior, however, it occurred to me that, if I were serious, I'd start immediately. I dropped 11 lbs which the surgeon noted aloud in the OR. This is not to say that, like you, I'm impressive, but that it told me I was ready for the long haul. You'll be fine.

It speaks well of your prospects that, despite no requirement, you chose to lose weight. Your mind is in a good place: You're serious. It goes without saying, which shan't stop me, that cutting out alcohol and the rest is smart. What raises a question is your saying that you're logging everything, but no word about what you are logging apart from the shakes. Sad to say, it is easy for counterproductive edibles to be going down your gullet. Consider an appt with the practice's RD to review a week or two of food logs. S/he can make suggestions for improvement. It's impressive that you chose to work on this. It probably makes you an exception. Although my bariatric practice had a loosey-goosey requirement (my insurance plan had none), my own surgeon told me that she didn't care whether I lost weight before surgery. A fool, I thought, "Oh, good, I'll start after." Three weeks, prior, however, it occurred to me that, if I were serious, I'd start immediately. I dropped 11 lbs which the surgeon noted aloud in the OR. This is not to say that, like you, I'm impressive, but that it told me I was ready for the long haul. You'll be fine. I am training myself now how to eat as though I have had WLS already. I start w. protein first on my plate, 2-4oz depending on the healthful value of it, then veggies. Carbs even fruit are a snack or combined w. a protein like snack. I do think my main issue is that I still am learning to have small meals through out the day. I end to lightly graze during the day but really still eat most of my calories in the evening. From what my Dr said this is most likely how I became obese in the first place and how many people become obese. I do not binge I just have dinner and then a snack before bed instead of just eating dinner and breaking up the meals through out the day. Most of my exercise is during the day also. I sit on a balance ball for 20 mins several times a day instead of my regular desk chair. I am serious. I have serious dreams for the future and it will be super hard to accomplish those with a 100 extra lbs. on me. I do not like having my time wasted. I refuse to waste the time of the individuals that are helping me through this process. I have also wasted enough of my families lives not sharing with them the hidden me. I appreciate all the positive energy that people put out on this site. I hope that others gain as much insight as I am.

I wish you the best of luck. However, I was able to lose weight with many different techniques, including the liquid diet method, but none allowed me to keep it off. Maybe that should be rephrased. I never kept the weight off by any diet method and the reason for that is a diet, by its connotative definition is a aberration of eating until we get to a goal, but then what? We go back to eating "NORMAL" (or normally for the English majors out there) and we gain the weight back. It is like trying to be a recovering alcoholic who after being in recovery for 2 years, says, "I will have a drink just once in a while". The Lap-Band is a tool not just to lose weight, but to keep it off. The "keep it off" part is the more important part and the harder part. Good luck, no matter what you decide.

You can drink alcohol with no problem. Just remember the empty calories but other than that you are okay. Good luck.

I got this from a google search for natural gas relief: Indigestion and heartburn are caused by an increased or decreased secretion of acids and other digestive enzymes in the abdomen. Symtoms include burning, a feeling of fullness and gaseousness in the abdomen. Reflux esophagitis is the medical name for heartburn. The acid reflux is caused by the flow of gastric juices up the esophagus. Indigestion and heartburn are usually caused by overeating, obesity, chocolate, fried foods, carbonated beverages, alcohol, coffee, and cigarettes. Eliminating these causes is the first step in preventing occurrences of indigestion. Eat small meals, eat slowly, limit intake of Fluid during meals, avoid spicy foods, eat whole-grain carbohydrates such as bread, brown rice, and Pasta, and avoid eating fruit with or after meals. The following remedies for indigestion can be found in health food stores. <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=center><SCRIPT type=text/javascript><!--google_ad_client = "pub-6167988213978292";google_ad_width = 180;google_ad_height = 90;google_ad_format = "180x90_0ads_al";google_ad_channel ="5878910303";google_color_border = "FFFFFF";google_color_bg = "FFFFFF";google_color_link = "339933";google_color_url = "000000";google_color_text = "000000";//--></SCRIPT><SCRIPT src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js" type=text/javascript></SCRIPT><IFRAME name=google_ads_frame marginWidth=0 marginHeight=0 src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/ads?client=ca-pub-6167988213978292&dt=1167690625265&lmt=1114756961&prev_fmts=336x280_as&format=180x90_0ads_al&output=html&channel=5878910303&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpapa.essortment.com%2Fnaturalremedies_rvff.htm&color_bg=FFFFFF&color_text=000000&color_link=339933&color_url=000000&color_border=FFFFFF&ref=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fsearch%3Fq%3Dnatural%2Bremedies%2Bfor%2Bgas%2Bpain&u_h=800&u_w=1280&u_ah=766&u_aw=1280&u_cd=32&u_tz=-480&u_his=56&u_java=true" frameBorder=0 width=180 scrolling=no height=90 allowTransparency></IFRAME></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Peppermint in tea or tablet form contains menthol and has an antispasmodic effect on the digestive tract. It relieves gas and stomach cramps. Chamomile in tea or tablet form has antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory and gas-relieving effects. Slippery elm bark in tea or tablet form helps form a protective coating in the stomach. DGL (deglycyrrhizinated licorice) is an anti-ulcer agent. Ginger in tea or tablet form relieves gas and reduces bloating and pain. Aloe vera gel helps soothe the stomach. Activated charcoal tablets or capsules are useful for gas pain. Charcoal absorbs medications and should not be taken within two hours of taking any medicine. To relieve pressure at night, use blocks to raise the head of the bed frame at least 6 inches. This will lessen the pressure on the stomach and prevent stomach contents from moving into the esophagus. Wait a couple of hours after a meal before lying down. sleep on the left side of the body, the stomach is lower when lying on the left side. Stress, obesity, and pressure on the stomach can cause indigestion. These causes can be eliminated by participating in regular exercise such as walking, bicycling, swimming, or yoga. Avoid strenuous exercise immediately after a meal. Aromatherapy can relieve an upset stomach. The following essential herbal oils can be used in an infusion or diluted with almond or olive oil (four drops of herbal oil with an ounce of almond or olive oil) and massaged onto the abdomen: Peppermint Marjoram Fennel Coriander Always consult a physician before proceeding with any remedy. Aloe Vera ( aloe bardadensis) History and uses : Nowadays a surprising number of people take advantage of the skin-softening properties of aloe vera in some way. It has long been used in folk medicine, and modern research indicates that when applied externally, aloe vera restores skin tissues and may aid the healing of burns and sores. It can also be used on blemishes and dandruff, and it works cosmetically to keep skin soft. While aloe seems to be the most potent when taken fresh from the leaf, it is an ingredient in several skin creams and shampoos. However, these products contain only small amounts of aloe. Aloe gel has also been taken internally for stomach disorders, while dried aloe latex - a different substance derived from the leaf - is a strong laxative. Anise ( Pimpinella anisum ) History and uses : Anise with it's nippy licorice flavour, has been used for centuries in both foods and medicines. The ancient Greeks, including Hypocrates, recommended it for coughs. Ancient Romans used anise in a special cake that concluded their enormous feasts. They included it not only for it's flavour, but to aid digestion and ease flatulence. The ancients also used anise as an aphrodisiac, for colic, and to combat nausea. Today anise is still used for coughs, in both syrups and lozenges. Drinking a tea made from the crushed and steeped seeds is said to aid digestion and ease gas pains. Some herbalists also recommend the tea to nursing mothers to increase milk flow. Anise is considered safe when taken in reasonable amounts. Plant Parts & Active Compounds : Seed. Anethole and other aromatic compounds. Basil ( Ocimum basilicum ) History and uses : Herbe royale to the French, a sign of love to Italians, and a sacred herb in India, basil has a rich and fanciful history, and a reputation for both good and evil. Some ancient herbalists believed that basil damaged the internal organs and caused the spontaneous generation of scorpions inside the body. Various cultures of the world have found their own uses for basil. In the Far East it has been used as a cough medicine, and in Africa it has been used to expel worms. American colonists considered basil the essential ingredient in a snuff used to ease headaches. One folk remedy says that tea made with basil and peppercorns will reduce fever. While most herbalists prefer other, more effective herbs, basil is still recommended for a variety of home remedies. The herb is a carmenative, meaning that it relieves gas, and when brewed in tea is said to aid digestion. Basil tea may also be useful for relieving stomach cramps, vomiting and constipation. Cascara Sagrada ( Rhamnus purshiana ) History and uses : Used primarily as a laxative, cascara sagrada was first used by North America's native peoples, and is still in use today. The name means "sacred bark" , a reference to the medicinal part of the plant. Cascara sagrada is popular for the relief of constipation, and it is reported to restore the bowel to a healthy tone, making repeated use of the remedy unnecessary. Small doses of tonic prepared from the bark are sometimes taken to ease digestion. Cascara sagrada extracts are found in many over-the-counter preparations. The bark is considered safe when aged for at least a year, however it should never be used by pregnant women. Chamomile ( Matricaria chamomilla ) History and uses : A soothing cup of chamomile tea has long been a popular way to take the edge off a long, hard day. Indeed, some studies have shown the herb to be an effective mild sedative, and so it has been used to combat insomnia. To get the strongest possible effects, the tea should be steeped in a closed vesel for at least ten minutes. Chamomile has a number of other uses as well. The oil of chamomile is sometimes prepared as an extract, which, when applied to the skin, may help reduce inflammations, and thereby alleviate the pain of arthritis. The extract may also be used to heal wounds. When taken internally, chamomile is said to aid digestion and relieve menstrual cramps, as well as settle acute stomach upset. This variety of chamomile, Matricaria chamomilla, is know as German chamomile. A related plant, Roman chamomile (anthemis nobilis), is less common but has similar effects. Both plants have feathery green leaves and delicate daisy-like flowers that, when crushed, give off a faint scent reminiscent of apples. And both grow along roadsides, in meadows and other abandoned places. Cinnamon ( Cinnamomum zeylaicum ) History and uses : Cinnamon is a common ingredient in folk remedies for colds, flatulence, nausea and vomiting. It has been shown to be carminative (releasing gas in the stomach and intestines), and so is useful for settling an upset stomach and for alleviating diarrhea. Cinnamon has also been used as a treatment to stimulate the appetites of anorexics. Consumers should note that the variety of cinnamon available for home use is actually derived from cassia bark. It is a related species and is said to produce similar effects.

Obesity is an uncurable disease. Diets don't work. I tried everything up until surgery and had lost 40 lbs on my own just cutting out carbs, alcohol and sugars. Don't be too hard on yourself. The band is a great way to lose weight and keep it off. I say go for it! You will not regret it for 1 minute. Good luck.

In all my years of banding (just over 5 years) I've never seen this blanket recommendation to not consume alcohol. Empty calories? YES. But forbidden? NO. After 4 weeks or so, few Bandsters have absolute 'forbidden' items - including an occasional drink. Most long term and successful Bandsters I know can have a glass of wine or two with dinner (depending on your own individual tolerance and habits) with no problem. Do remember that with the band encouraging less food intake - this can mean that a smaller amount of alcohol can affect you faster, so I think with all things moderation is key. My friends who have lost 60-168# with the Band do drink now and again - and I know I clearly told my surgeon at my initial consults that I like a glass of wine (and an occasional and rare margarita) and he thought it was acceptable and might make the band a better choice than the RnY bypass (although my close friends with RnY can drink in moderation, too.) If I know I'm going to have a glass of wine once in a while, I cut my carbs elsewhere. It works for me. So it's all about what works for you. Happy Band Journeys To All...

Well, I decided to start this journal to try and keep track of how often my head demons seem to overcome me. Maybe, I can figure out how to ward them off better. It all started this week, after Valentine's day. My husband bought me a bag of chocolates (which is something I asked for for Valentine's day:confused: ). Since then, I have had no self control. I decided that I needed to go through withdrawal, and then my control would come back. I was doing very well, until last night. Yesterday, I went to my nephew's b-day party and managed to do quite well resisting everything there, such as pizza, nachos, and cake. Then they sent us home with a party favor bag for my son. In it, it had a couple of debbie's brownies (my absolute favorite). I ate half of one and tried to pig out. The problem is, that once I decide to pig out, it becomes a very hard task. It's like, I then decide to plan my pig out, but can't seem to get in everything I want. So I go crazy. This is what I ate last night: gold fish (100) bbq chips (15) cracker-1 cottage cheese-2tbs meatloaf veggies-2tbs chocolate chip cookies-6minibites brownie-1/2 I know, that after reviewing all of this, it doesn't look like a lot. I keep reviewing it to see if there is anything I missed because I felt stuffed last night. This morning, I feel terrible. The problem is that I am an "all or nothing" type of person. Either I have full control, or I have none. I feel so gross and bloated. I also worry about my band and the damage I do to it by not following the rules. O.K. I think I know what the problem is. The problem is, that I drink too much. I have 2 mixed drinks every night. This takes away all of my self control. I know I have a problem, because I can't go a whole night without drinking. I know I need to stop, or at least decrease, my drinking. I just think I am too analytical, and when I am sober, I tend to think about things too much. I used to be a pothead, and think that this is why. Since being banded, I realized that I had to choose: the band or weed. And I chose the band. I haven't smoked weed in over 3 months. O.K. I was a functional pothead and am a functional alcoholic. I still go to work and do really well all day long, until about 7pm, when it is time to relax. I do use alcohol to relax. I admit it. Weight-loss wise, I have done really well. I have lost 63 pounds in less than a year. I know that if I didn't have weed or alcohol in my life, I could have lost more. My goal is to be down to 145, or 135, by my one year anniversary. So once I gave up weed, I knew that sooner or later, I would have to give up alcohol, as well. I think, no I KNOW, that it's time. I just don't know. Starting tomorrow, I'm going to try. I hope I have the strength...

I can only speak for myself, but having the VSG one year ago was the best decision I've ever made. To date, I've lost 120 pounds and continue to lose weight (although much more slowly now). I knew from the beginning that the band was not for me and I went for my initial consultation with the surgeon thinking I was going to have the RNY procedure. It was my surgeon who suggested the VNY and I will forever be gratful to him that he did. I don't think I ever really focused on "having 85% of my stomach removed" although I was certainly aware of that fact. I just viewed this as the surgical procedure I needed to have to regain my health. I do notice that some people react strongly when I tell them exactly how much has been removed, but when they see the tremendous progress I have made. To be honest, there are still days when I long to eat some of the things and the volume that I used to, but like a drug addict or an alcoholic, I realize that I was not capable of handling food in a responsible manner. I am just grateful that I found a tool that has made it possible for me to manage my particular addiction. My advice is to do a lot of research and find out as much as you can about the procedure. You can certainly understand it without necessarily dwelling on the details. Good luck to you on your journey. Brian

Ok, so I will just type in my blog instead of munching. I wish I would have never found that easy peanut butter cookie recipe. Ugh, I mean really...my favorite cookie in the whole world and I can literally have a hot batch made, with prep time to consumption only kill about 20 minutes and that includes clean up! lol Last night dh really did not help matters. I kind of half heartedly laughed to myself....he asked what and I told him that my inner fat girl had something to say and was thinking evil thoughts.....long story short, we had a batch whipped up in no time! I like the little saying "I have a thin person inside me screaming to get out. But, I can normally shut her up with chocolate cake." So, can you tell yet that I am really fighting off the munchies? I mean EVERY night at this time I have a hard time. Thank God for sunflower seeds. I am glad I found out how many calories are in wine. Now there is no fear of becoming an alcoholic.:crying: The good news is I have lost 2 of the 7 pounds I gained during the evacuation. WOOT:w00t:! I wish weight came off as fast as it comes on. Pretty bad when you hope for a small stomach virus or something to get the weight loss kick started. Oh well, I will just keep on doing what I am doing. I know HOW for goodness sake! Done it before, now I will do it again.

Hi Magnolia, First, as far as staying logged on to the forum, that has something to do with whether your computer uses Cookies and what your security settings are. That's a technical thing I can't really help with, but suffice to say it's on your end. You are staying logged on DURING each session, right? This forum is organized by message "threads" within topic areas. If you want to see the just the recently active threads click on "New Posts" at the top of the home page when you arrive and after you log in. That will show you only those threads that have new posts since you were last here. The ones marked with black dots are the ones in which you have posted. Posting a reply can be done by clicking on any of the "reply" buttons, and of course we always try to stay on topic. Next, about your 1cc fill: Every doctor approaches fills differently. There is no "right" or "normal" amount of Fluid, and in any event the effect of a certain amount varies immensely from person to person. Ask your doctor what he expects the result of this fill to be--did he expect you to be substantially restricted right off the bat, or is he approaching good restriction slowly? Once you have the answer to that question, you can evaluate whether this fill was successful or not. a small turkey buger patty, tomatoe, smashed avocado, pickle and half an ear of corn with no problem Did you eat all this quickly at one sitting? It sounds like a perfectly fine meal and one that I might be able to eat, but only if the burger had no bun and it would take me a while in any event. My point is that's not a whole lot of food and I'm sure it's nowhere near what you would have eaten prebanding. There is another whole thread about alcohol. Is it OK to have a margarita? Well, sure, if you're willing to take in the empty calories and possibly compromise your sense of fullness. Many people report that even one drink is enough to get a buzz and also makes them eat more absentmindedly, which at best means more calories and at worst can mean pain. But it's up to you.

I've been researching the lap band for a few months and know I need to do something about my weight, so I finally convinced my hubby and went ahead and started figuring out a date that would work for me. So I booked with Dr. Rodrigeuz in Del Rio, then I got a call from a different patiant co. and she was telling me the lap band isn't the way to go that i wouldn't be able to drink alcohol or eat spicy food, which I will never give up!! So she suggested the mini gastric sleeve, it really bugs me that I would have 60 % of my stomach removed and besides I cannot afford the price difference. So then I phone Dr Rodrigeuz in Monterrey and spoke to him directly, I liked this, no middle man to deal with. He suggested the band would be the best. Any comments on the lap band or Dr Rodriguez?

I don't think people are being judgmental at all. As for harshness...sometimes it TAKES harshness to get through to people. That said, I do NOT think this thread has been harsh at all. As for someone's leisure time or lifestyle being "not our business?" When you put it out on a public forum, then yes, that poster is "inviting" commentary on their lifestyle. In addition, alcohol is VERY much a lifestyle choice that often DOES impact others. So when someone says that they're like to go to a graduation party, one month post op, to do vodka shooters, I can't help but wonder how many of the other people at that party will be drunk that night? And of those, how many will choose to drive because they're not "that drunk?" And for this particular poster, it makes me sad. She's taken a HUGE step toward being healthy the rest of her life and instead of making plans to make the most of her surgery, she wants to drink enough to "feel it." There are so many other ways....and yes, in my opinion, BETTER ways, to enjoy life.

I was in your exact shoes with my surgeon and his reasoning for making my goal weight 150lbs was because I am considered large frame. I have huge ankle, knee joints, seriously, my husband can not wrap his hand around my ankles, and I am extremely barrel-chested (wide ribcage). So, after much consideration, and really thinking of what I would look like at 150 vs. 125, I was content with 150lbs as my goal weight. I went below my goal weight and at my lowest, 119lb, I was too small. My bones were protruding, you could see the blue veins through the skin on my neck. I purposely gained weight to give me a maintenance weight average of 125-130lbs, and in that range I am perfectly content. Actually, I was perfectly content at 150lbs, I still had boobs, I still had some curviness to my figure. I was wearing a 7/9 and with the drop of 20-25lbs, I was wearing a size 2 jeans, and xtra small tops, so even though I didn't drop major pounds, I lost lots of inches, and sizes. I got there in a healthy manner. I didn't starve myself, or not eat certain foods. Once I hit the 150 mark, I did start adding in more calories and carbs per his instructions, and it took another 4 months to lose those 20-25lbs so I was doing my damnedest to not lose anymore weight. I also had zero issues maintaining between 125-130lbs. I personally didn't mind the bounce on the scale considering my choices in eating in moderation, and not restricting certain foods. It's just how I want to live my life post-VSG. So, I accept the bounce on the scale, if the scale bounces up to 131-132, I'm cutting the alcohol and white carbs for a few days, but I'm not really dieting, just being more mindful of what I'm eating and drinking.

Maybe drinking this week is fine, but in reality is that really the best choice for successful, long term weight loss? Alcohol is just empty carbs and calories. I totally understand that you have to do what you want to do. I just know that I want the sleeve to work the best it can for me. And that means making good food choices now and forever. Limiting fats and carbs for the rest of my life. Not just during the honeymoon period.