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Tina - have you started any new medications lately or changed your dosage? I would like to stop my anti-depressant and see if it makes a difference but I think I need it to stay sane. Same with my 1 mg of estradial a day- but I don't want hot flashes. Guess I will just keep on trying to stay on track with my eating and up the exercise. I am making at least one vegetarian food for Saturday as two of my kids are vegetarians now - no fish either. Cooking for two meat eaters and two vegetarians is not very easy - there aren't very many different choices with the Boca and Morningstar brands at the stores I shop at.

WOW - lots of catchin up to do! Sorry I've been MIA but it seems my work is never done! I have a friend who's getting married and I have been chosen as the matron of honor - not an easy task for this gal - she is OPD and wants a "police" themed wedding - WTF? Been planning and making invites for the engagement party blah blah blah! CONGRATULATIONS: Riley, size 12! Nicole, size 8/10, Heather 50 flippin 3lbs! Jes - surgery 9/16, Tamra 18lbs down! Tamra, change that ticker girl! See, it goes fast doesn't it? I eat steak - sirloin - it's protein girly! A few of these ladies are vegetarians! I do measure though! Chris - so sorry bout the PB incident. Guess you are no longer a "virgin" in that area LOL. Maria - don't trip - all their scales are different! Now you know you have a 4lb curve to work with - You know what that means - next time you have to go al fresco! Heather, you and your 20's are like me and my 16's LOL You will be back in that dress by the end of the month at your rate! You go hot mama! Nicole - I want you to move hahaha. Sucks about the pay rate they want to give but if all else fails he can take the job for now and keep looking - as you know, there isn't much out there right now! Reggie, nice compliments to the newbies but they really belong to you novices that guide us in the right direction and keep us on track! Got two pairs of jeans for you girl! LORI - WELCOME! STICK WITH THESE LADIES - THEY ROCK! Riley, I can't believe you said "butt hurt" my niece says that all the time - cracks me up! Jes - my class is on the 3rd too! lets carpool - I can pick you up if you want!

Heather glad your back.............really nice outside tonight. Wow 1/3 cup and it was painful? That is pretty tight. Do you know what 1/3 cup is ounce wise? I think that is more than they were saying was the "perfect" restriction of 1/4 cup. So if that was true than they would still technically still need to give you a fill. So you would be really, really tight at the perfect restriction. If it was painful to eat than I bet you were staying full longer than the 4-6 hours. Do you know what your cal intake per day was. I thought you said you were sometimes eating soft foods just to get something in for the day when nothing was staying down. So you were only eating 1/3 a cup three times a day and didn't lose......I bet you were only eating 500 calorories or so a day. I didn't realize that. For me I am not sure working the band is staying at 1/3 to 1/4 cup if your hungry all the time or sooner than the 4-6 hours recommended. THat might be working the pre op diet and the rules but I think it is alot about willpower which we can do without a band. The band is suppose to help with the hunger and amounts. If I need 3/4 to a cup to stay full for the 4-6 hours I eat it. I just try to eat a protien and salad or a vegetable and not junk food. When I ear more than a cup of anything it is salad with beans for protiens. I am vegetarian but still I am not gonna stay at 1/4 a cup three times a day if I am stil hungry I don't consider that working the band. To me that is inviting temptataion later when I am starving........I consider that a sign I probably need a fill so I get full and stay full longer. Why have a tool if your gonna do it on your own anyway? I got the band to help me do well, not so I would be in the same place with the willpower and struggle as before surgery. Everyone is different so working the band is different for everyone. It is hard to understand full and the sweet spot until you hit it.

Wow Laura, you have a large amount of fill. I have been tight with my 1.2 cc's for well over a month now. TOM will effect things. Give it a few days. You might get try a hot tea/coffee before you try to eat anything... even mushies. I have also found the pleasures of tofu on tight days. The silky kind goes down really easy, and tastes great after you marinade it overnight in sauce. My hubby thinks I am going vegetarian now, but really I am just trying to survive without hard proteins because it makes me hurt. Good luck!

Yeah! Feel free to message me if you need suggestions or recipes. I'm fairly new, 1 month post op, navigating food again but I'm learning as I go! Can always try and impart the post op vegetarian wisdom. Sent from my SM-G975U using BariatricPal mobile app

What is Wrong with the Sandwiches You Used to Eat? A typical workday might have started off with a trip through the drive-through for a breakfast burrito or sandwich, or a bagel and cream cheese sandwich at work. Lunch could have been a brown bag peanut butter and jelly sandwich or a trip to a nearby restaurant for a sandwich, burrito, or burger. Where might these options leave you? Sausage, egg, and cheese croissant or biscuit from a drive-through (600 calories with 42 grams of fat) Bagel with cream cheese (500 calories with 70 grams of carbohydrates) Peanut butter and jelly sandwich (600 calories and 40 grams of sugar) Club sandwich (1,000 calories and 2,500 milligrams of sodium) Chicken patty sandwich (60 grams of carbohydrates and 1,100 milligrams of sodium) Beef, bean, and cheese burrito (900 calories and 40 grams of fat) Your breakfast and lunch sandwiches could have added up to over 1,500 calories. Add in beverages, sides (hash browns, fries or chips, anyone?), and snacks, and you could have been at 3,000 calories by lunchtime! These Choices Don’t Work After Weight Loss Surgery! Needless to say, these options do not fit into your weight loss surgery diet. First, some of those sandwiches have more calories than you are supposed to be eating in a day, not to mention that some also contain more saturated fat, sodium, and sugar than you should have in a day. Second, those sandwiches emphasize starchy breads and fatty condiments, not the lean proteins and nutritious vegetables you need to stay full and nourished after weight loss surgery. Third, they can cause complications. Doughy bagels and fried chicken, for example, can cause obstructions in lap-band patients; fatty sausage and sugary jelly can cause dumping syndrome in gastric bypass patients; and these low-nutrient foods can fill you up and cause malnutrition. Luckily, this does not mean that you need to give up the convenience of sandwiches and the pleasure you get from biting into one. There are plenty of ways to make sandwiches that are weight loss surgery-friendly: low-calorie, high-protein, convenient, and delicious! Protein Fillings for WLS Sandwiches Start by choosing a lean source of protein, just like you do when you plan all of your meals. These are some healthier options compared to what you might have chosen before weight loss surgery. Don’t forget to measure your portions if you are making your own sandwich, or eyeball your portions if you are ordering in a restaurant. 2 scrambled egg whites (30 calories) 2 ounces of canned light tuna (60 calories) 2 ounces of chicken breast, lean ham, turkey breast (80 calories) 2 ounces of fat-free cheese (90 calories) ½ cup cooked beans or 1 vegetarian burger (120 calories) 2 ounces of turkey or vegetarian bacon or breakfast sausage (130 calories) Load up on Vegetables and Fruit Vegetables and fruit are the next food groups to add to your meals. Vegetables especially are low-calorie, so add more if you want a bigger sandwich. Try classic combinations, or get creative. You can also experiment with herbs such as fresh cilantro, basil, and dill. These are some ideas. Lettuce and tomatoes with meat and cheese Grilled eggplant, zucchini, and/or bell peppers with beans Cucumbers and sprouts with fat-free feta cheese Diced celery, carrots, onions, and water chestnuts with tuna Spinach and mushrooms with egg whites Pear or apple with fat-free cheddar cheese Cantaloupe with ham and/or fat-free cheese Blueberries with egg whites Breads and Alternatives Most bread is high in carbohydrates and low in protein – clearly not what you need for your nutritious weight loss surgery diet. Besides adding calories and carbs, bread can cause obstructions in lap-band patients and make gastric bypass patients sick or overly full. When possible, skip the regular bread. Bagels Tortillas Subs Croissants Biscuits Regular sliced bread Instead, choose whole-grain, high-fiber, low-calorie breads, and consider open-faced sandwiches, with the filling on 1 slice of bread, instead of regular 2-slice sandwiches. These are some good options. Reduced-calorie bread (45 or fewer calories per slice) Light English muffin (50 calories per half) Mini whole grain bagel (60 calories per half) Low-carb tortilla (50 calories per small tortilla) High-fiber, light wrap (90 calories per wrap) Also, look for creative, non-bread alternatives. Lettuce leaves to make lettuce wraps or cups Egg roll or wonton wrappers Sheets of dried seaweed Grilled eggplant Your fork (skip the bread and just eat the filling) Keeping Condiments Under Control The condiments that you add can make or break your sandwich, both in terms of nutrition and taste. Skip the full-fat mayonnaise, dressings, dips, sour cream, and butter, and be wary of high-sugar jam, barbecue sauce, and honey mustard. Instead, consider the following condiments. Salsa Fat-free mayo, dressing, dip, or sour cream Regular mustard Plain, non-fat Greek yogurt Hot sauce Shredded fat-free parmesan cheese Reduced-calorie, trans fat-free margarine Some Breakfast Sandwich Ideas to Start Your Day Off Right Egg whites scrambled with spinach, mushrooms, and fat-free feta cheese on ½ English muffin Cottage cheese and strawberries wrapped in lettuce leaves Shredded fat-free cheese and lean ham toasted on a slice of reduced-calorie, whole-wheat bread and topped with salsa and tomatoes Egg whites cooked with turkey bacon and broccoli in a small, high-fiber wrap ½ whole-grain mini bagel spread with fat-free cream cheese and topped with canned salmon with diced celery and water chestnuts Lunch Sandwiches Lettuce wrap filled with diced chicken breast, bean sprouts, mushrooms, and bell peppers, and soy sauce or light Asian dressing Dried seaweed sheet rolled around tuna salad made with fat-free mayo, chives, and celery Pinwheels made by layering slices of turkey breast, lean ham, and fat-free cheese slices, spreading them with mustard, and rolling them Bean burrito with black beans, fat-free cheddar cheese, salsa, and fat-free sour cream on a small, high-fiber tortilla Chicken breast with sliced apple and light vinaigrette between slices of grilled eggplant Tomato sauce, fat-free mozzarella cheese, and mushrooms on a light English muffin Toasted Rueben sandwich with low-fat Swiss cheese, shredded cabbage or sauerkraut, lean corned beef, and fat-free Thousand Island dressing on a light English muffin Are You Ready for Some Sandwiches? You can eat these sandwiches at home, or make them ahead of time and carry them with you in a reusable container. As a weight loss surgery patient, you should own plenty of reusable containers with tight-fitting lids. If you do not already have some, they are worth the investment so that you can carry healthy foods with you wherever you go. We hope that you enjoy these sandwich ideas and that you are inspired to make some of your own healthy, high-protein sandwiches!

Well I could use that 10 pound thing........From Kaiser? Is that a Fremont thing?? So does it really work?? I am not suppose to have bread not that it gets struck or anything now........but Dr. Baggs said no bread for me..... I am vegetarian but I think I have some veggie meat stuff I could use in place of the tuna. Ok so than you go to regular 1200......pre op diet?? Hmm I might try it. I am down again today but I am so up and down lately it is hard to know how long it will last. I think I will try it but have to start on Thursday or else figure out what to do when I go out to lunch tomorrow. I was planning to get a salad......not sure that would work. I plan to be there Saturday!!

Oh than I am there for sure this weekend!! I am so happy it is earlier than I thought.............. My daughter is trying to make plans for this weekend with friends so she may not be with me................... I am lacto ova veggie so dairy is fine and i can always bring something veggie to add to the mix for use veggie people. A salad or some kinda of vegetarian meatloaf thing............ Let me know!! Excited I can come!! Yahoo!!

Yummo, I want the recipe for that lentil loaf. It is SO nice to be transitioning back to veggie, and SO much sooner than I thought! Really hard to be lo-carb vegetarian tho, and that's the rub. I can't do wheat - not the amount in like bread, and definately not seitan - so it's even more of a challenge. But as long as I can have enough soy I'll be fine. I have to limit myself to 1/4 cup also right now, which just makes me eat 6 times a day instead of 3! For me, "full" - this new "full," which I DO NOT LIKE - feels like I am going to get stuck, just not as intense. Definately not the old full satisfied feeling down in my stomach, this is up near my throat!! The problem is that I usually have another bite chewed up & ready to swallow by the time I get that feeling, and it is HARD to not swallow that bite, but if I do, I am guaranteed to PB. Unfortunately, I can also drink a little something to move things through, and then eat several bites more, RATS! What does "full" (or "done") feel like to you? Do you have any signs, like burping or hiccuping or anything?

Riley how funny we are both in the same place. I am used to being able to get away with more like I was without the fill. I think your right head hunger is playing with me big time right now. I made a vegetarian tofu thing and veggies tonight......last week no problem. Tonight only half and I am not even sure this is 1/4 cup and I am sick instantly...... And you know that crazy thing.............my head still thinks that my stomach wants to eat the rest!! But I know my stomach can't handle it. It still looks yummy sitting on the plate!! I should NOT even want to touch it after getting stuck and sick!! ;-P So I am getting used to this fill but I feel like it is pretty tight fill right now..............lets hope I start dropping the weight since I know for sure I am barely eating right now. I think I went from no restriction to a pretty good amount overnight. No wonder I felt so tight that first night I should have paid more attention to that and maybe I would be in less trouble today!! No wonder they say protiens first after that there is not room for anything more!! Forget salads for awhile I guess. Hey Nicole and Christine how was your last fill? Are you guys getting full really quick and getting stuck too?? Hope everyone is having a great weekend out to the movies. Needless to say no snacks!! Hey Candra I will come walk that hill with you are you in Sacramento?? I really need a hill to walk!!

Heather - 46! OMG! I am so proud of you!!!! You are totally rockin it! Dr. Fisher probably knew that you would respond to a challenge head-on like this :-) Tina if you call Kelly for an unfill appt., tell her you have to come in next Friday with me cause Dr. Baggs needs to take it OUT of your band and put it IN my band! We can do a (very small) group vegetarian nutrition appointment with Robin too! I will have my older son with me but he can only narc on me, he's got nothing on you LOL!!

Hi Everyone, I think I've caught up on many of the posts of the last two weeks. It sounds like everyone is doing great! I just spent one week in Provence and the second week on the French Riviera in an apartment that we had. I went with my 36 year old son and we had a great time. It was very strange not logging my food and eating differently. I discovered that my Sleeve really doesn't like meat all that much. I ate a little of everything and sampled things I wouldn't eat at home. I felt a lot better eating more vegetarian and got in my first salads in 4 months and more fruit as well. I definitely ate more carbs and less protein. Now I need to figure out what works at home. I was throwing up a lot before vacation and never did while away. We walked a lot. Last week 47 miles and more the week before. We traveled 25 hours to get home. We got here last night, I slept around 5 hours, then went to work for 9 hours. I was thrilled to come home and have the energy to walk 2 miles. I worried that maybe I gained weight but came home down 4 pounds. YAY! I haven't been under 189 in 30+ years so I'm so looking forward to it! I still have Dr. Baggs goal of being "overweight" at my six month visit so that means I have to shed 16 pounds in the next 7 weeks. That's my recap and now it's time to chill, have dinner and clean up some of this travel mess that's all around me. Take care everyone! Hey, did I mention that I love my Sleeve? :ohmy:

Farah Fawcett?? really?? Ed McMahon I liked too!! MIcheal Jackson was strange but I think he had a very very hard life. I don't agree with much of what he did and was about but he started out with promise anyway.........just sad. Riley I can drink the same as yesterday nothing has changed. I don't feel a thing. Not full at all and not much funnel. Nothing hurts, I don't feel full. It might be another 4 weeks of willpower. Last time I knew right away something was different. Right away!! I think you RILEY might be at your sweet spot!! Amazing at 5cc's !! I will be excited to hear how it goes with everyone's fills this month. By the way (Riley/Jane) Liz was asking me about my support system, support groups and of course I mentioned everyone and Kaiser West point. I said Jane and are both vegetarian and like joking around so we have alot in common. Dr. Baggs jumped in and told me keeping in contact with Jane is a very good thing for you to do. I encourage it :-) Compliment. I think maybe he thinks you can teach me a thing or two since you have lost so much and you like exercise and I don't!! LOL.

Thanks all. I am up 9 pounds in two days!! OMG not sure what is up with that but is a big problem!! It is also that time of the month finally!! :-) Guess I should post more often cause it seems to have solved the problem!! How can I gain almost 10 pounds in two days?? So now I have to lose 15-20 to get a fill!! Not happening in a week. So regardless I just called and cancelled my appointment with Dr. Baggs and they asked if I wanted to cancell with Robin so I cancelled both. I told Kelly I will just call them back when I am ready. I don't want to schedule anything now cause I am not sure where I will be in a month. Weight wise or insurance wise. I want to get to 180 eventually but the band thing and using the tool is not an option right now so I am gonna just do it on my own and take my time. If I do lose my insurance I am thinking I am better off being without restriction instead of too much. So yea I am pretty much done making the drive to the Bay area for awhile. If I don't get laid off in February than I will make new game plan for March and figure out what to do from there............ I am sure Kaiser isn't gonna be thrilled but I can't be stressing out so much all the time about this. I would rather just do my own thing and go at my own pace for now and see what happenes. I think not having the stress of worrying about what the scale says every day is already making me feel better :-) Maybe my bad week at Christmas did me in or maybe all this bloating is doing me in. I will figure it out better without the stress. It is not like I can call and ask for a fill and I haven't earned it so it really is very black and white. Lee I am vegetarian and I figure your right it has something to do with not losing fast and being hungry. But after thinking about it alot I am not gonna eat meat. I know it means alot of things and means the band will not work as well for me but I am ok with that. Oatmeal I can stop I was using it to try to keep me full longer but I certainly don't need more carbs

I only met with Dr. Baggs for a few minutes. He was really, really busy today...........they had us going in one after the other all afternoon!! I think he was doing the majority of surgeries at our pre op today!! Also the office staff was having problems today..............I said they are having issues today and he said I was nicer than him he thought it was more than issues................... I told him my brain was spinning still from Liz's instructions and I could not think of any questions...........he had me sign the form told me what would happen and that was it......said he would put a CD in during surgery if I had something I like............I don't really care.......... Met with Robin the vegetarian thing is fine. If I get to hunger in stage three I will try some chicken than........if not I am fine. Whew...........she said with my diet lap band is best. She also has been vegetarian for 10 years and we looked up lost of labels so it was really a great meeting.........I have a new list of things to try out and I get to add some old favorites back. Still no nuts.............ah that I miss........I can make some great things with walnuts and cashews!! Got the anti nasuea meds and didn't get out of there until 4:30 since the pharmacy was crazy..............but I am done until Friday!! Oh Nicole Dr. Baggs told me about the your situation with radiology and the lunch break!!! I told him I knew who is was and he laughed............told him I heard the story. He said hope you are the first surgery of the day so it won't happen again............. Anyway I was up at 4am so I gotta get some sleep.........

Sunshine1 you are doing awesome!!!! I'm soooooo jealous! We were banded on the same day and I have a lot more weight to lose than you. Very proud of what I have lost....just wish I was doing as good as you! I agree with restriction without losing a part of normal every day eating with out PB'ing. Met a lady at the Dr.s office the other day who is (and wants) restriction so tight she can't eat meat. Not me, just want tight enough to live life like most normal people! Plus, we're farmers who raise our own beef....husband would probably divorce me (kidding!) if I became a vegetarian! Anyway, you're doing great...keep up the good work!

Hello, chickabo. Please know that I come from a place of wanting to help provide you some information and share my experience. I'm not saying I'm right or wrong, this is just my experience over the past 8 weeks. And I know when I was pre surgery I wanted as much information as I could get to help me. Before I go into my story below, I found a doctor online, Dr. Garth Davis, (http://www.thedavisclinic.com), who is a Bariatric surgeon in Texas -he is a 'plant based' doctor. I found this guy after I had my surgery, but he seems to be a good resource and one that I wish I would have found pre-surgery. You may find his information helpful or at least contact his office to get information sent to you so that you have some to help you with your doctor. Here is my story, if you want to read further: I was a vegan for several years pre-surgery. So was my family (husband and two sons). We did it for the animal issue, not the health issue. Trust me when I say I have seen more than most people on animal cruelty and food and I battle mentally with it everyday. When I first started looking into the Lap-band, I didn't find anything on vegan and Lap-band. All I kept seeing was 'Protein, protein, protein' and more 'protein.' But I knew, as a vegan, that I could get enough protein to hit 60 grams or more a day per what my doctor was telling me I had to have. I had done it for years and didn't see the issue. (When I say protein here is what I mean: There are only a few "complete proteins" (a protein that contains all the 8 essential amino acids that your body is unable to make on its own) for vegans and they are soy milk, tofu, and tempeh (these are the only true "complete proteins" for vegans). All other Proteins that you get from plants are called "incomplete proteins" like grains, legumes, seeds, and nuts. Now as vegan, you can take two "incomplete proteins" and combine them to can get a "complete protein." Example: grains + legumes or legumes + seeds/nuts.) So the issue wasn't getting "protein" per say. The issue that I saw right away was getting the enough of the right "protein" (complete proteins) which lead me to where I would have the biggest issue being vegan-- the volume of food that I would need to eat to get a minimum of 60 grams of protein a day. You see, when I was vegan (pre band), I could eat a large tofu "egg" wrap with a cup of broccoli and vegan cheese inside for Breakfast. This would give me ~14 grams of protein for ~350 calories or so (including a low carb wrap). However, when I look at the numbers in more detail with my post-band rules, this just doesn't give me the right amount of protein for the calories (10/1 - for every 10 calories in the food it should have at least 1 gram of protein). So, even thought it would give me "complete protein" for the meal, it wasn't the 10/1 rule. But more importantly, that is a HUGE amount of food to be eating after Lap-Band surgery. There is no way I could eat that much in one sitting. I might be able to make two meals of it now. That means for two meals I would only be getting ~14 grams of protein. So, having said that, I could (and do on occasion) supplement with Protein drinks (Sun Warrior Original Flavor chocolate or vanilla is the absolute best tasting and it has a 80 calories / 4 carbs / 15 grams of protein - which is great), but I quickly learned after I moved to soft solid foods (after the liquid diet pre and post surgery) that I wanted to eat food - I was SICK of drinking my calories. So protein drinks can fill in the gaps for getting more protein, but I found that I wanted to eat my calories instead of drinking them. So this wouldn't be an option for me longterm. So, what's an animal loving vegan who really wants / needs a Lap-band to do? As I was doing research, I ran across an article that talked about a devout vegan (animal lover) who was vegan for years and all of a sudden started craving animal protein. Long article short, she took a bite of something that had animal protein in it and as she said, "guess what, the world didn't end!" That was my moment. I thought, I have spent years battling my weight and part of that was doing everything that was 'best' for everyone else and it was time that I took care of me. So that is when I made the switch to vegetarian. I had huge amount of guilt (that I still carry around) but I knew I needed to at least try it versus continue down my road of being obese and miserable. You see, WLS patients aren't choosing the easy way out, contrary to what you might think, read, see, or hear. We chose surgery where we are cut open and surgically altered - that is not easy. We chose to eat very minimal amounts of food when others around us are eating pounds of it - that is not easy. We chose to exercise at least 210 minutes a week - that is not easy. We chose to have to chew every little bite we take 20-30 times - that is not easy. We have to take Vitamins that are horrible every single day - that is not easy. So to me, making a few food changes to my diet didn't seem that hard compared to all the other "not easy" stuff I was agreeing to do. So, after my pre-op and post-op diet of all liquids (which I had for 3 weeks), when I made the move to soft proteins I incorporated some yogurt (which I still can't stand) and then I incorporated some string cheese and some egg whites (not eggs). I did this very slowly. I then progressed to eating salmon, tuna, and shrimp. I still use all my vegan condiments (vegan mayo, cream cheese, sour cream, etc.) but I chose to add in easier proteins to my day. I'm not going to tell you how great I feel or how I'm losing weight by the lbs daily, but I'm just going to tell you that it is working for me right now, today and that's all I have. Opening my mind and putting more focus on me is working for me, today. And everyday is another day to do it better. I have tried to get away from "I did bad today," to "I will try to do better tomorrow" and that has helped to. I hope some of this has helped you a little bit. It's okay if it didn't. I just want you to know that whatever you choose to do, do it for you. This is YOUR time and no one or no thing can take it away from you. Sending you all the best and well wishes. Keep us posted on here! Jen

thanks for reply did you had any health problem being vegetarian? How is your energy? Mine is so low my doctor didnt gave me any diet to keep. His only strong advice was to eat only 3 meals per day... and yes I need to find my motivation to lose weight again! I hate extra kgs!

This is not vegan, though, quite the opposite...I'd never do raw, either (well, non-vegan raw would be tough, anyway!). I generally find it impossible to go a single day without dairy or meat, so anything vegetarian, let alone vegan, was never on my list.

What is it about a builder that they cannot manage to buy trousers that cover the crack in their a*se? Builders bum (definition: the top pf the buttocks showing when a pair of trousers is worn too low or when the wearer is bending over). Can't their wives buy a bigger pair of trousers? Have they all gained vast amount of weight since their trousers were purchased? Why can't they wear clothes which protect their dignity (and my sensibilities)??? Anyway, the sheds have been demolished and the game is on. The canine culprits (culprits for what? just everything) have enjoyed extra walkies and no doubt I am burning a few extra calories by taking them out for all those "comfort breaks". The back garden no longer has a lawn (oh well) a shed (errr) or a garden door so it is well and truly open to all comers. Never mind! Within 8 weeks we shall have a functional ground floor bedroom and bathroom for my boy - and life will be a lot easier. Does anyone else have junk food Thursday? We try to eat healthy, but on the grounds that if you are good most of the time you can be less sensible occasionally, we have junk food Thursday. On Thursday, when I am ebbing from the stresses and strains of maintaining my busy, noisy, psychotic (did I really say that, that can't be right) family through the week, but haven't quite reached the haven of the weekend, we relieve the tension by lessening the stress of preparing the evening meal. We have junk food. Well, lets be a bit more honest: they have junk food. I can't eat enough of anything to make it worth the extra calories and I don't like the salt resultant Fluid based weight gain inthe morning weigh in so I abstain. Arern't I a good girl? But basically anything froma packet counts. Favourites are noodles, chips (translation from Uk to US: french fries), supermarket pies, crispy pancakes, veggie burgers, veggie hotdogs (for the uninitiated: we are vegetarians - you'd never have guessed would you?) and occasionallly a take away (translation; take out) in the form of pizza, a curry or even a Chinese! I would strongly reccommend this practice. It results in kids who don't feel deprived but don't expect it all the time, which results in healthier bodies - and wife and Mum who is marginally less frazzled. Happy kids, happy Mum - husband eats everything - rather too much of everything but what are you gonna do? Somehow, knowing that Thursday is coming makes eating healthier through the rest of the week (including the weekends) less of a chore. Useful tip?

I am home sick today too Pam!! I have a killer sore throat and let it go all week. Crashed yesterday..........I got up for a couple hours to go to my daughters school program but was out by 7pm. Not to bad though cause I woke up to a yard full of snow and I am glad I didn't have to drive the roads. My daughter ran the California international marathon yesterday with a relay team and she is home with a sore throat today. I am so proud of her 7 miles ....but she can hardly move today. Donna my legs are so sore from all the up and down at Arco Arena!! LOL. I should have done it a few more times. Next year I am going to volunteer with you. All my lab results came back in the normal range for all the Vitamins, Iron and protien.Even B12 which is hard for vegetarians is NORMAL. I am so glad. I take two vitamins and calcuim a day and I do try to eat lots of protien. I am happy I guess that means I can still be vegetarian. Working hard on losing this week. As soon as my throat heals up I am going back to the gym. Gotta hit this early this time....... Jes and Candra hoping you get fills too!! I bet you guys will this time and I bet you get big ones cause the other doctors do big fills but less often!!

You have done so well. First, congratulations! Have you been keeping track of what goes in your mouth, journaling or something? This seems to help me, and at times I stop doing it and lose consciousness of what I'm really eating. Weight watchers is good for that. Others here are using weight watchers meetings or the online program and getting good results. I am resistant to "going on a diet" too... Perhaps if you look at it as a three month intensive workshop or something like that, to just tweak your habits... you might not fall back on a diet cycle. Good luck with that... Im only 2 1/2 weeks out, so not much experience with the sleeve yet, but loads with dieting! I am a vegetarian too, and hope I can pull off enough low carb eating to make this sleeve/tool work well.

Boy you guys are chatty today - maybe the hot weather is keeping us inside. Tamra - how are you able to get down bread and pasta? It's great you lost a few pounds quickly but it doesn't sound like you are getting enough protein - be careful with all the fad diets - I for one got my band so I could stop going on all the different diets. I am quite sure I would not get a revision unless I had a serious problem with my band like erosion - and the odds are on my side that won't happen. And if I had to have my band removed I would wait to see before I had anything done. I don't really think one surgery is better or worse than the other - they are different surgeries and it is a personal choice - whatever surgery you choose you need to follow the program. Weight loss with all three will slow down and eventually stall out - and although we can only eat small amounts at a time with all three surgeries - all three let us eat small amounts all day if we choose to and we can all gain back the weight - it is up to each of us to control our path. I just got back from Sam's Club and I bought some Brown Cow Greek Yogurt - 6 strawberry and 6 blueberry for $9.18 - each have 14 gr of protein. I am not a yogurt fan, but it will be good for my two vegetarian children.

Heh heh heh, I USED to be embarrased because I had to pack a big fat suitcase to go on a little trip like nthis - not because I had so many shoes to bring, but because my clothes were twice as big and I had to make sure that all my tops were long enough to cover up my belly! Now my stuff fits easily in a backpack :-) So I guess it's a trade-off, I have to bring weird vegetarian lap-band no PB food, but I also bring only a backpack of clothes! And hummus and sunflower seeds. Peace . . .

I am just joking about my age............I guess I am middle aged at 39 but I feel old!! LOL. I am an old soul too. Dr. Baggs didn't discourage the band when I went in BUT some of the other surgeons did at the orientation and it was VERY CLEAR that RNY was preferred. I just couldn't do that and I am vegetarian so that made RNY a bit of a problem too. I do think Kaiser is phasing it out. I think that is the whole reason. Because I was given the choice and when I asked Dr. Baggs what he preferred he said it was my choice. I was also BMI 42 and he said the lower BMI's do better with the band. I don't know what your BMI is but you weigh close to what I did. Lap band expects a 50% weight lose so that would be about 200 in the end but lots of people have done more. I plan to do more than that......eventually. Cole will you be at Kaiser this weekend??