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Good Monday! Well, I guess you could say that I had a couple of really crappy food days. :think I tried to make better choices as I ate all day, and for the most part I did, but I gave in to the potato chip monster. And it's completely stress eating, I'm having huge coping issues. I didn't realize I was as bad as I am for comfort eating. You see, my husband's grandpa is passing away. And seeing as how Chris and I have been together for 17 years, and everyone elder in my family is passed (bad heart disease in my family) except for my mom, he may as well be my grandpa too. He's quite old, 91, but he's always been in such great shape. We've been told to expect a call at any time, so now I am on pins and needles. And this really brings back when I lost my brother which has been almost 10 years now. I've never really recovered from when he died and that is when my true weight gain really got out of control and I started needing meds for depression and anxiety. So...I guess you could say I have a coping mechanism that revolves around food. I mourn with food. I know this. But how do I work around it? I wish admitting this would make it go away. Perhaps just admitting it in this post will help. I've never seen it on paper (screen) before. Sorry to be such a downer on this beautiful day. I'm not really as sad as this sounds. Just more dissapointed that I want to cram a bunch of junk food in my face! Why does it make me feel better, even if temporarily? I used to smoke (years ago) and any amount of stress caused me to run for a smoke and feel better. Now I just cram food in. I get the same effect as I did from the smoke. Have any of you come up with new things to do other than eat? Nothing seems to give me that quick blast of "feel better" than food. Thanks for listening. I needed to get it off my chest somehow. Like I said, I'm not as sad as this appears. I know he's an old man who's had a great life. I'll miss him, but I'm okay with it. Have a great day all! And again, thanks.

Don't get discouraged. The weight gain with TOM is just swelling and fluid weight. It will drop off. That happens to me every month - and every time I work! I can gain 7 to 10 lbs over night! Don't dispair, it will improve!

Hi ladies. Thanks so much for the good thoughts and prayers. I am back home. Yesterday was quite the day. Rich and I traveled up to Flagstaff first thing in the morning and arrived around 9am. We checked in at the office and were told my Endoscopy was scheduled for 1:15 in the afternoon. I ended up spending most of my morning on the phone trying to figure out insurance. They needed my PCP to write a referral since the GI Dr was out of network. Well I have only seen my PCP once ever since I moved to Tucson, last September when I had a double ear infection. She isn't even aware of my recent surgery. Oye. What fun it was trying to explain about my surgeon Dr Kirshenbaum in Colorado, my new surgeons Dr Berger and Dr Aldridge in Flagstaff, my emergency CT scan records at NW Medical from the ER visit, and why exactly I was in Flagstaff to see Dr Trujillo for the Endoscopy. Big mess. Needless to say they could not get pre-approval for the procedure in time, so we are thinking this is going to come out of our packet. The staff at Dr Trujillo's office was wonderful and very very helpful. If it ends up getting denied they will work with us on a payment plan. We decided to go ahead with the procedure since we were in town and I didn't want to wait days for an authorization that may never come through. Dr Kirshenbaum and Dr Aldridge seemed to be in agreement that the Endoscopy should be done right away to rule our erosion. The procedure went ok. The medication they gave me to knock me out... didn't knock me out. Go figure. I always seem to fall into the lucky few category that have averse reactions. I am still thankful that I didn't wake up during my surgery. That would have been something that would have happened to me. heh. So I was awake and gagging through the whole procedure. It wasn't horrible, but it wasn't exactly pleasant either. I guess my body does not respond to "twilight" sedation. I had the same thing happen to me when I had a HSG years ago The "twilight" sedation never kicked in and I felt everything. No fun. I was practically jumping off the table for that one. At least this one wasn't as much painful as it was awkward. I have a big gag reflex and it was in full swing. Dr Trujillo determined that I have acid reflux, swelling, and irritation. He prescribed Nexium to help with the reflux. I was surprised to say the least. I have no symptoms at all of reflux, and would never have thought that I had it. Dr Berger did mention during my fill last month that I was refluxing the contrast. I didn't feel it refluxing and told him I didn't have any heartburn. Go figure. So the reflux thing was diagnosed and will be taken care of with the Nexium. I do not have a hole in my stomach or any indication of erosion. *big sigh of relief* However, Dr Trujillo mentioned that when he went down into my stomach there was not really a pouch above the band. He thinks it may have slipped. So now I am waiting for Dr Aldridge to look over the results of the Endoscopy since Dr Berger is out of town. I have been sitting on pins and needles all day waiting for him to call. I have been reading up on slippage and have found a lot of contradicting information as far as symptoms. I had a lot of pain, weight gain, no restriction, and acid reflux. All of which could be signs. Then again... other people report severe restriction and the inability to swallow even saliva. So I really don't know what to think. For now I feel good. My weight has leveled out for the most part which has been very frustrating. I am afraid to eat... worried that I may have a slipped band. I am still scheduled for a fill next week and plan on keeping the appointment unless something changes. I am hoping that the pain was from the acid reflux and the non-restriction and weight gain is nothing more than needing a fill. I am also hoping that Dr Truillo may not have looked at enough bandings under Endoscopy to know what the pouch should or shouldn't look like. Please may that be the case. So for now I am still waiting. Waiting for the all clear. These last few days have been frustrating and trying. I am ready for it to be over.

I actually had no idea it was erroded. I just couldn't eat anything without throwing it up. I just chalked it up to the weight gain with the pregnancy. I love the sleeve so far and am only a month out so im still learning my hunger cues and when I'm full. I start my full regular diet this week so it's anything I can tolerate. I also haven't had kaiser. I actually lost it a month after surgery when moved to Washington and was just going to fill centers. When I moved back to CA I got anthem bluecross and have had 2 amazing drs. I also have a hard time with support now that I'm sleeved because I know only my band sisters. I ask my friend who has rny a lot of questions but I'm finding out how different things are between the two surgeries. It would be nice to talk to people who have gone through what I'm beginning to.

Tina & Pammie - I've been on wellbutrin for a year now and let me assure you - it has NOT helped me with any head hunger or weight loss - however I have Zero side effects and I no longer cry LOL. I take 2 x 100mg pills in the morning. They are the sustained release and before you all yell at me - Doc Who said There was no problem with me taking the SR version with the band. I switched to the regular ones after surgery and had to take 1 in the morning and 1 in the evening but I found that they didn't work so well - I was getting my headaches back more freequently and they they kind of keep you awake when you take it too late. So, I got the ok to go back on the SR version. The reason I started off with them is because my PCP said it had the least chance of weight gain as a side effect. All anti depressants are "blockers" so that is why they slow down the weight loss process - because the "block" the hormone that tells your brain to burn cals. I think with this one, though, it amps you up a bit in the beginnig so that you are in such a good mood that you don't eat as much - just my opinion but I'd LOVE to hear what Dr. Oz said about it. Got an appointment with unemployment tomorrow - UGH!

Misty and lapDancer = Yeah! Misty I got my first kind of foamy feedback today. Weird, just lost of white foam. I guess I overdid the Liquids, if you can imagine. Collector - thanks, I though perhaps they inserted some rocks or something to have that kind of weight gain when I was on a very healthy preop diet was disconcerting. I think I will stay off the scale until it's been a week. Other than the foamy stuff, I am beginning to feel my energy again. Yeah! Walked halfway down and up the block. It felt good. I just don't know how much is too much too soon. I am sooooo comitted to this losing process. Off and running. I have a Post Op appointment next Thursday at 10am. Hugs and blessings to you all; without you I wouldn't be here.

Good food day today, 785 calories and within my limits for fat and carbs, and 77 grams of protein. 140 oz of water or herbal iced tea, so far - up to 10 pees! I sure hope it helps! I only have 6 miles in so I'm headed out - I refuse to let this weight gain stick on me!!!

Hi ladies! Chris it will be nice to see ya:) So now i guess ur campin meal plans are diff, i thought you were happy to be on liquids:D I am so stressed out, i have to start packing today we go campin tomorrow to sunday. Do you think ive started?????? I also am still fighting the carb weight gain but about a .5 a lb is lost every day from it so by next week i should be back lol. Well Reggie if u check this more often then FB pls call me:D 530.263.8390 Have a good day girls!:wub: I think im gonna do eggs all day:)

Good luck Mdrai!!! Laura55...I'm in Ireland too! Are you going with ACS? I'll post more tomorrow..haven't time now.. Hello & goodbye for today!! P.S no weight gain this week!! ( remember I thought I might have gained after the wedding) Yippee...ticker below is officially correct again...it's all downhill from here!!

Hi all---we are back safe & sound!!! What a great weekend! Yesterday we rode up to the Rally in the Rockies---spent an enjoyable day. Took a few little excursion rides, bought some shirts, and junk, saw old friends, some we meet up with at several rallies, others just this rally. Every year at this rally I see my old boyfriend....he was so doggone cute in 2nd grade!!! Now we compare pics of our grandbabies, and we always had a beer together. He was is shock at me this year, and I had no beer!!! Today we rode up to the innaugural year of the Sugar Pine Ranch Rally. It was in the mountains, on an actual working ranch, lakes, and mountains, and horses, and cows, and acres and acres of fields, filled with vendors, and beer tents, and live bands---it had a defintive feel of Woodstock. Not that I was there....but the open fields, and music stages....not the drugs around that I hear were there. But it was lots of fun!! Ran into some friends from Flagstaff AZ. Rick and I went to run to a small nearby town to grab something for my eyes---allergies were killer! It was threatening rain, so I grabbed my leather jacket. When we come back he went to help me off with my jacket, and told me we needed to shop, my jacket looked like hell! Such a romantic he is!!! So we shopped the leather vendors, and I got a new leather jacket!!! My old one, is a mans classic leather bike jacket. The new one is made for a woman!! Before I could never get one to fit! This one is cut in a girl shape, hourglass kind of. It is short, with the leather braid to match my chaps. And it is an XL. Which still sounds big, but one of the friends we went up with is a little bitty thing, she wears a size 7 pants, but has some boobs---she had to buy a Large vest, so with her buying that, I felt much, much better about requiring a XL!!! Rick told me repeatedly how good it looked, I felt like it was too snug, and my belly too big to wear the shorter style---but hey he likes it, and it is him I want to look my best for---so I wore it Was a great weekend, and I did really well with my eating until tonight....we were getting ready to leave, and I could not leave without my fix!!! But one single slice of chocolate covered cheesecake was it! Usually several are required to satisfy me!!!! Along with numerous other things bad for me---this time I did really well, til the last minute!!! Gina---I'd love the recipe! All you guys with your stories---mine is pretty lame! I was a thin child, married the first time at 17, I am 5'9" and struggled to get up to 116 pounds to fill out my dress!!! That husband cheated, repeatedly. Had one child with him, lost another...gained about 20 pounds over the time. Married again---#2 was EXTREMELY abusive. He made a comment one time about a fat woman---warning me if I ever looked like that he would leave my ass. I went straight to GNC, and bought a canister of weight gain, used by wrestlers! Seriously---I worked hard to gain weight, and was good at it. I found myself pregnant, and seriously unhappy about it. Strongly considered abortion, but was told I was further along than they thought---I was uninsured, and ultrasound was not cheap. A month later, when I still measured large, they were concerned enough to pay a little more attention, and found I was carrying twins. I was severely depressed...I did not want any children with the man I was married to, he was incredibly mean. He threatened to hurt my family if I did not stay in line, and he proved it a time or 2 with friends, hospitalizing one---horrid man. He hospitalized me twice here as well. Eventually he wanted to move from the area, go where his family was, so mine would not see the babies. I saw it as my only chance to escape harm for my family. At an appointment it was discovered I was carrying in a placenta previa position, which was going to require C-section. He was furious. Financially it was devastating. He left with his step Dad, come home drunk, and proceeded to try to kill me. Perhaps if he hadn't been so drunk he would have succeeded. I lived, my babies did not. I suffered massive guilt, I had never wanted those innocent boys---I grew to love them, but I knew they were headed to a hard life hiding from an abusive father---I would never have let him in their lives. I was working on getting out alive, it may sound trite, but it is 100% seriously said. The mental state I was in, was beyond description. Guilt, anger, despair, more guilt....and the weight come on...with a vengeance! I ate to cover up all the feelings I had no idea how to control, and it had an added benefit, no men looked at me. They were dangerous. I raised my daughter, and ate. Then an old friend and I went out, and we run into Rick and another friend from High School. Which I knew them, they were safe. Unless you count the fact that he stole my heart! And he has yet to return it! He never EVER mentioned to me that the skinny girl from HS got fat. He loved me the way I was. But he sure seems to like me getting thinner, he says that yeah it is sexier, but he loves knowing I am healthier. With the year he has had health wise, it is something he worries about. Next year is my 30th class reunion, and I fully intend on going, and not being fat anymore. OK, I am off to bed, it was a long, fun weekend, and I am tired!!!! Hope Tracy had as much fun as I did!!!! Kat

Good morning, all you Shrink'n Violets!!! It's a new day, a new week and a new adventure, 1 pound at a time!! Sara.. so sorry to hear about Dave. You and he are in my thoughts and prayers. Pamela.. your closet looks awesome!! Thanks for sharing all the pics!! Kat.. I'm still in awe of the 100#!!! I hope to be able to say that someday. TracyK....isn't it great to know that the weight gain is not permanent anymore??? I just love the fact that this is not going to be yet another yo-yo attempt at dieting. This is the real thing and that little band will help US achieve our goal!! Theresa... woooo hooooo on the ring. It's all those little NSV's that keep us going!! Today I'm going to wear a pair of capri's that are a size 14/16W and I had set aside for when we go to Disney on the 21st of August. They didn't fit when I bought them a couple of weeks ago and now, here I am wearing them!!! Time to get dressed and head on down for our fill. Everyone have a great day and remember... WWJD??!!!

Hi Flirtlass, I'm due to get my op on the 17 march. I just read that you have lost 4 and 1/2 stone since September, that just seems like a dream! I weigh 16 stone 12 at the moment and I'd be happy to get down to 11 stone 8lbs which will give me a BMI of 27 and then I can get a tummy tuck!!!!! I hate my tummy, after 6 kids, the last 2 were twins and weighted 7lb5 and 6lb13, my belly was enormous and has never been the same since! I put my weight gain done to being depressed about my belly, so to make me feel better.....of course I COMFORT EAT all the bad things of course! Do you mind telling me what you weighed when you started and how often you had fills. If you don't want to write it for all to see I can give you my email address. Reading all these chats from everyone is very inspirational and I am beginning to get excited! :bananalama: Although sice I booked my surgery my husband has started looking at expensive bikes, which is pretty worrying as this op is taking all our savings and the rest, I hope he doesn't think he can buy toys to the equivalent value on our credit cards!!!!!!!!:cheers2::present: Fatpants

Hello again ladies.. Just got off the phone with Donna - she missed us :thumbup: Hi Donna!! Tamra, this is step 1 girl - you are on your way - whoop whoop! Don't be sad or down about the weight gain - that part of your life will all be over before you know it! This is why we are ALL here!!! I had a nice time today at the group fill - simply because I got to "feel" like I was already part of the bandsters - LOl. It's good to know what I have in store for the future - It was great to finally meet Riley, Nicole & Christine (Christine, those pics were great but they don't really do you justice!) Here are the pics I got

Donna you are the best... Will you be there Saturday? Maria - hang in girlfriend - I recall the first time I ate mushies I had so very little and felt stuffed for about 7 hours! Oh, what I wouldn't give to have that back again LOL. So I got this crazy Body Magic girdle thingy for the wedding and was told that you have to wear it 6 hours the first time you put it on so that it can mold to your body - They stuck me in a size 32 inch - hooked it all the way on the tightest one so now they want me in a 30 inch - crazy cuz this thing is so snug I don't want to eat anything! I love it though - flattens out all my lumps & bumps - probably will never take it off and will have to buy a new one by the time the wedding rolls around - I hear they have red ones for the christmas season Hmmm... feelin daring enough to get sexy in red! Man, my tummy has NEVER looked FLAT like this before - think I'll wear it Saturday so you all can see! Jes, Don't you love yours! So, what's going on with everybody.... Who will be at group on Saturday - I'm so looking forward to it - no wight loss since last month - only weight gain but I did lose 1/2lb when I weight this morning - I hope to be heading back in the right direction. I got a handle on my snacking - at least for the last two days! Back to No Carbs - will have a very small amount tomorrow for T-Day - Turkey and stuffing will be no carbs - well a little from the celery & onions in the stuffing but good carbs - NO BREAD IN IT. Also will have cauliflower mash (my fave) & will make my own cranberry sauce with fresh berries - wont the rest of may family be jealous when they are eating all the high carb grub! LOL LOL

I agree with Pamela---we ARE always here, and each of you has my phone # now from the list--please feel free any time to use it! I am not sure that it was a consious thing with me last year (where you guys are now) or whether it was SAD or what---but when Rick reminded me, I went WOW! This year it IS different! Last year, I was somewhat worried about what I could and could not eat, what was good for me, what would cause me problems, and what I was going to miss. And then if I ate and gained, was I destined to spiral out of control never to emerge on the happy bandster side of life again? I felt like I personally had no control! My band had some control, that I truly did not appreciate! The difference is this year, I know it will pass!! I know I CAN eat, there are a multitude of things available that are not horrible choices...because it is afterall a holiday celebration! I also know that if I gain 5 pounds---it will come off, and I am NOT failing again. Judy is not having the panic over that, she has faced the issues on her cruises...all the yummy food, and the weight gain....and has come out the other side with the knowledge that a backslide is not a failure, it is a speed bump! I for one am uncomfortable being too tight--it scares me! My loss has likely been slowed by that, but it is my choice---but even with that, when I gain here and there, it eventually comes back off, and when I mentally go off the deep end, and eat junk, junk and more junk (oh yeah has happened many a time!!!)---eventually something clicks again (often times a compliment from someone---it spurs me on again!) and I get it under control, and feel like I have not only survived but won. This is not the Atkins of old, that once I ate a chip it was a roller coaster ride back to the original weight plus. With the band, I may gain weight, but for the most part when I am being bad in my choices, it still maintains me pretty well---keeps me from giving up hope! Knowing I can do this, and the band IS doing this--made this year much easier. It is relaxing, knowing it is there, to keep me within my personally set boundaries. I could not handle the constant PB's---I would prefer to have a milder warning that enough is enough---stop eating! I think it is a time line that is normal! Remember as has been pointed out---there are little stages we all go through, and I think this one y'all are hitting is normal....and remember if you say it isn't---you are calling me abnormal!! LOL Like Pamela said----come here and scream and cry and vent--who better to understand? And not judge? ((((hugs)))) this too shall pass, and you will look back, and be so thrilled to see that you and your band made it, and life goes back to the exercise, and eat right way---because it does. We are all human, and the season change, added to the time change, and the holiday work overload, stresses us all....stress sometimes affects the band. It ALWAYS affects my eating! But it is survivable, and surmountable!! Hang in there girls---it is gonna be ok!!! Kat

I show 7.1 lbs for you Dear! AND I must say you have been on your best behavior lately - on that Loser's Bench! You have been keeping your hands to yourself and playing nicely! I'm very proud of you! My favorite scrubs were ones that had baby otters on them! Just adorable! Wish I could wear them now! I am sick of PURPLE! I loved when Lifesaver thought we were all blaming our weight gain on poor Tom in the office! That was hilarious! I was engaged to a man named Tom once. A long time ago -- when Dinosaurs ruled the earth!

Welcome Cindy---from one unofficial member (not technically an April 07 bandster!) to another! Glad to have you here! Hang out, and let US get to know YOU now!!! Well my stitches are out, it doesn't look as bad as I feared. He said the residual swelling will likely take months to go down--loverly!! Wow---deep thoughts today girls! My story is pretty easy---I blame me! I did not get fat until well into my 20's. I married at 17, he cheated on me regularly. But no one in my family had ever divorced, so I was afraid to stand up for myself, even though I knew divorce was the right direction. Eventually when the 2nd child (besides ours), I did it and divorced him. I began seeing DH then, and realized how different life could be. But it was not meant to be at that time, and he had college to finish, and my now ex refused to allow me to leave the state (as per NM divorce) with our DD. So Rick and I went our separate ways---at least physically! Then I met and married the biggest mistake of my life. I did not listen to family nor friends, I accepted the first thing offered, I guess trying to recapture what I lost with Rick--I don't know. Soon after the abuse began, verbal, emotional...escalating to physical and sexual. The pushes and shoves grew to all out beatings, broken bones, and hospitalizations. But he had me where he wanted me, he did not threaten me when I tried to leave, he threatened my elderly grandparents and my crippled brother---he would hurt them---I knew he would, it was not a threat, but a promise. I got myself into the situation, I refused to get one of them hurt or worse, trying to get out of it. Eventually he wanted to move to TX where his family was (San Antonio), so we moved. I saw it as my way out---none of my family there to hurt. I got him to agree to let Manda stay with my parents until we found a place to live. She was with them for 6 weeks. Nothing changed, he was only worse, when in the presence of his abusive step Dad---horrible, horrible family. I began putting on weight about this time, I had zero self confidence, I doubted my own judgement in anything, I knew IF I lived through it, I was going to be twice divorced---the thought killed me! One day walking in KMart there was a big woman in there, and he told me if I ever looked like that he would leave my ass. Suddenly those thoughts come back, and I worked to gain weight! I even went so far as to drink weight gain from GNC!! The big ordeal went down--he tried to kill me, stabbed me 8 times. Eventually I flew home tattered and torn, and he went to prison. And the depression deepened---how did I do this to my life? By now Rick is remarried...and I am horribly alone, and scared to death to even think about another man---I trust no one. BUT food comforted me, and did not lash out, and did not cheat, and was always there when I needed it! Through the years I moved on and worked through my issues, as well as one can I suppose, but by then habits were set, and I was huge! Rick was never far from my mind, nor me his he says, we kept tabs through mutual friends. He divorced, and called me, and we have never looked back. When he left for school, I was maybe 125 pounds. When he walked up to my house all those years later, I was twice that! He was smiling ear to ear, and looking in my eyes---he did not ever say a negative word to me about my weight-ever. I can now look back, and understand exactly what motivated me to make the mistakes as I made them, but...didn't see it then! The old hindsight thing! I had such an easy childhood, almost idylic, I never EVER expected a husband to cheat....that was for soap operas! And yet that paled in comparison to what happen next---but my fear was what isolated me to living with the food. If Rick had not come back into my life---I would likely have remained alone, trust is still not something I give easily. I already knew him, trusted him, and loved him, and his kids. We married a few years later, we lived together for awhile before that...following a long distance relationship! And I could not ask for anyone to ever treat me any better---I often wonder how I lucked out this time around! I desperately wanted to lose weight for me---but also for him. He was just as disallusioned with life as I was, and I want to give him as good as he gives me---that means not only healthy---but fun to look at!! So....that is my session on the couch. Many of you knew my story---for those that didn't....sorry it is a bit of a shocker I know...but the finale of the story is that I WON! I am strong, and able, and confident now----he will never ever have power over me like that again, even if he does get out----I will handle it! I have moved from fear, to anger---and now have a "bring it on sucker!" attitude for him! The End! LOL Kat

Shesha!!!!!!!!!!! OMG, OMG, OMG!!!!! Sooo congrats! I have thought of you every time I log on to this thread! I'm sooo glad you had a wonderful lil baby boy...and he was big! Proof that babies can be had after the band! And big too! Pleeeez send us some pics when you get a chance! And you did absolutely wonderfully in regards to weight gain during it. You are my hero! And, I missed you! Welcome back...and again... CONGRATS!!!!!!:thumbup: Yay babies! :biggrin2:

What size band do u have cadence ? It wasnt until i got around 7.25 that i really felt some restriction, i got stuck still but woiuld get hungry in between meals and probably eat a little more than i thought i could. My surgeon at Nuffield Hospital says just be careful after a fill, they always do the water test fills then afterwards make u sit and eat a yoghurt before going home, but he doesnt really push for liquids only .. I eat 3 meals a day .. dinner in the evenings around 6 pm i try not to have any snacks at all of an evening just tea or coffee and use them as fillers during the day in between meals. I normally have some form of protein and 2 green veg, or a salad. I always start my dinner with a weight watchers tomato soup to stop me from eating too fast or too much as this makes me feel half full even before i start eating. The trick is to keep everything that you are supposed to do in your head and just tweak it to what works for you.. I know exactly what food i can and cant eat, what makes me heavier in the mornings when i weigh myself and u just have to keep plugging away at it. I do try and do as much exercise as i can as i would be a slow loser without it. I also eat food that supposidly helps speed up the metabolism like broccoli, green tea, asparagus, chilli etc i googled it .. I wouldnt lose much weight at all if i went over 1000 calories a day so i dont, i burn around 800 a day and include strength training which to me is a must to develop muscles enough to burn even more calories.. it works for me anyways, sounds like u still need your fills tweaking . My last fill was 0.3 and that works good for a while, i am back next monday for another small fill .. Good luck and dont give up .. i am sure if you wernet banded you would have put on weight maybe so the loss might not be much but in the grand scheme of things u have halted your weight gains

Originally Posted by househuntress Well tonight..I blew it. I ate WAY more than I have ever since getting banded. It was almost like I was just trying to see how much I could eat. Now..let me add this..it's NO WHERE NEAR..what I could eat before the band. It's just about double what I have eaten a day since banded.But I'm still very pissed at myself.I keep trying to listen to myself and say it was just ONE day, just ONE day ..I don't feel so alone now. Last night I ate three chicken tenders, a baked potato and a few bites of salad. Late last night I ate a protein bar. I continue to sip water. So my choices in food are far better than they use to be, and like you the amount of food consumed is nothing like it use to be. I'm feeling really guilty right now. Up five pounds! But I do believe it is PMS weight gain and I didn't take my water pill yesterday..but still!

LESSON LEARNED: Way too hard to stick to the diet without my big ass jug of water! I didn't have it yesterday and so I kept reaching for almonds (sorry Tam I sorta went off program) Didn't over do it - an almond here, and almond there but up 2lbs from that in just one day - my body sucks! Jes - lemme know when and where and I'm there - seems like the only time I get out to walk is when you call so hit me up! Donna - don't really know why I'm so cranky but I can just assume it's lack of money - I'm officially poor! I got Suave shampoo & St Ives face wash - WOW! Heather - can you sneak me into your luggage - I don't even care if I get lost and wind up someplace other than Hawaii - just want ANY type of vacation LOL Tina - I'm thinking about cancelling my appt with Doc Fisher on the 15th - I'm up 1lb since I last saw him and I already know that I won't get a fill so It will be a waste of time. Pammie & Riley - I have seriously left 10 messages with the psych dept in Vallejo - NOT ONE CALL BACK! How the heck do I get into these emotional eating classes - my PCP just says to keep trying! GGGRRRRRRRRRRR! John - good to hear from you - glad you had a nice vacation - don't worry about the weight gain - perfectly acceptable on vacation as you don't get to go often. Now your back and now it's time for the 1200 cal diet again! I sure wish that dang diet worked for me! I LOVE MY CARBS!! PAT - CONGRATU -FRIGGIN-LATIONS! Now THAT'S how you start out a new year! Still cranky ladies & gent but workin on it :w00t:

Whoop Whoop, post holiday weight gain has now gone and its back to tackling the last stone or two. I'm hoping to lose 1 stone by christmas. Freckles, I'm so pleased that your mum is getting stonger, it'll be a weight off your mind when you are on your holls. Love mmm

:cursing: Talks with hands? hee hee...I'm an interpreter (sign language) by profession. :mad: Today is so much better than yesterday. Did some Gas-X and chilled the whole day. Stomach went doooooooown. :thumbup: I posted this article I found...for you all to enjoy (hopefully) as much as I did. I found it beneficial. How to eat healthier if… You’re a serious snacker The fallout: You may end up overeating. A healthy snack or two between meals is fine. They can keep blood sugar steady as well as allow you to rack up more servings of fruits and vegetables. “It’s when you snack in place of eating meals that you’re more likely to lose track of how much you’re eating.” Says Tara Gidus, R.D., an Orlando, Florida – based spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. Of course, what you eat matters, too. Typical snack foods (chips, cookies, pretzels) aren’t that nutritious or satisfying, so it’s easy to overdo them. The Fix: To keep your energy up and hunger at bay, allow yourself two snacks a day of 100 to 300 calories each. “Rather than a cookie or a candy bar, opt for something that feels like real food—half of a small sandwich, whole-grain crackers with cheese, a handful of nuts, baby carrots with hummus, or yogurt sprinkled with cereal,” says Gidus. You’re a speed-eater The Fallout: Gulping fod may set you up for stomach troubles (PR: or a spasm of PBing) “you take in excess air, which can lead to bloating.” Says Leslie Bonci, R.D., director of sports nutrition at the University of Pittsburgh medical Center. You also might not be chewing well. Saliva begins to break food down, and too little time in the mouth leaves more work for the rest of the digestive track. This may contribute to indigestion, says Ellie Krieger, R.D. host of the Food Network’s healthy Appetite. Finally, speed eating doesn’t give the brain time to catch up to the stomach; it needs atleast 20 minutes to get the message that your stomach is full. A recent study found that women who ate a meal in 30 minutes ate 10% fewer calories compared with those who wolfed one down in barely 10. The Fix: Try to slow down. Avoid finger foods, and instead choose items you have to put on a plate and eat with utensils, such as stir fries and salads. Pause often, and drink water throughout meals.( PR: in the case of our fellow bandsters do not drink 30 minutes before or after your meal) You eat your way out of a bad mood The Fallout: It may be soothing in the moment, but feeding your fears and frustrations, instead of confronting them, can lead to a cycle of more bad moods as well as steady weight gain. Many people turn to carbohydrates, in particular, which produce tryptophan, a type of amino acid that is used by the brain to manufacture serotonin. When the brain makes more serotonin, your mood improves, but only temporarily, says Judith Wurtman, Ph.D., a coauthor of The Serotonin Power Diet (Rodale Books). The Fix: Stop to think about what’s bothering you before reflectively opening the cupboard. Then try a nonfood mood booster, such as taking a walk, seeing a movie, or calling a friend. If nothing but carbs will do, get the serotonin boost without triggering a binge, says Gidus. Opt for a whole-grain treat so atleast you get more fiber and less sugar. Healthy rehabilitation ideas: “We started stocking some of the jars in our office with organic fruit instead of candy. So now I grab a plum, an orange…” “Every Sunday night I boil eggs. I eat one every day for breakfast during the week. I can eat it on the go, and it’s a good way to get some protein…” “Whenever I have party leftovers, I send them home with the guests so I can’t binge..”

Saw snow in Castle Rock on this morning's news! Don't get discouraged if you have a weight gain after surgery. I think the first time I weighed was a week after surgery and I was up several pounds. But I wasn't thinking about all the swelling in my leg. The next week 3 1/2 lb loss and then 2 lb this week. And now that I am able to walk 1/2 mile at a time, I'm sure I'll continue to lose faster than I was prior to surgery. You'll do the same.

Goooood Morning All!!!! I agree that we need time to laze around and yakkity yakkity yak while in Chicago. That's why we need a week! LOL. I'm hoping most can come Thursday evening and leave Sunday or Monday. I myself will probably plan to get there Thurs. and leave Mon. Morning since I'm taking the train -- I'm in no rush to return to work. LOL. Apples -- are there trains from your area? I'm excited -- I love travel by train -- so interesting and relaxing. Sandy, I too used to be like you -- I was soooooo clean it was sickening -- I'm still fussy (no one can ever clean to my satisfaction -- I always end up firing any and all cleaning people I hire), but I'm not nearly as bad as I was in my younger days. My ah ha wake up moment was when I had kidney failure -- that was when I decided i wanted to live and get healthy and enjoy life. I agree with you about the 50 thing of realizing we aren't going to be around forever -- I quit smoking right after I turned 50 but it took me longer to realize my weight was also killing me. I used to say I was a "healthy fat woman". Wow, who the heck was I kidding? I used to say, "I'm never going to deprive myself of anything again cause it doesn't do any good." I also used to say "I can't exercise cause of my back - it will make it hurt worse" when in fact it doesn't hurt any worse and often feels better after exercise. That was just the fat chick inside me determined to take over and kill me! Once my GD was born it made me realize I wanted to be around to see her grow up. I'm so happy I made those choices. Eva and Apples sounds like a fun day - even if you aren't into sewing I'm sure the quit show was interesting. Apples, I am like you -- I have gotten away from all my creative projects as well -- especially sad I have not finished my book. We must vow to get back to these things this year. I too have a huge stamp collection and never make cards -- I have all these supplies and they sit, year after year unused. I must stop procrastinating and to it this year!! My DH was not feeling well when we returned from Des Moines yesterday. Tried a new bbque place that someone recommended and it was good -- I had turkey and a few bites of Beans -- couldn't eat much - DH had brisket and garlic bread (including mine), beans and french fries so not sure if something he ate made him sick or not. I felt fine -- it might just be the regular flu - -he had chills and aches and upset tummy. Hope he's better today - he's still slumbering - I really want to see the King's speech. Hope we can go. Aylah called and said she made us some refrigerator magnets and wants to stop by and bring them to us. She's so darn cute -- she's so excited. Spent about 2 hours in the kitchen after our return cleaning my chicken breasts and butterflying them in preparation for freezing - bought 10 lbs. of breasts - and it took awhile. Then I took the meat off the rotissiere chicken for DH - will make him some more homemade Soup today -- that will cure him. Julie, sorry you are still having problems -- have you been to any doctors recently? When is your DH having his shoulder surgery? When is your DD due? Is it March? I can't remember. Sorry to hear about the weight gain -- try to eat mostly Protein and maybe some sugarfree puddings with extra protein in them -- that will help your hunger and shouldn't put on pounds. Have some Protein drinks when you get hungry -- it's quick and easy - add a banana in it -- some Peanut Butter (or our powdered peanut butter) really helps fill you up -- DH is right - you need to have food to keep up your strength -- but the right kind of food is what you need --not carbs -- they don't build up your strength. Hope things turn around -- maybe you'll start to feel better when the cold weather passes -- it may be linked to cold, damp weather. I'm trying to remember when all of this started -- was it during winter? Hugs to you Julie, we think of you often. Hope it gets better. Cheri, Kaye has information on dumping syndrome on her site -- from what I remember reading it sounded like we could get it -- not just the by pass patients -- if I see that article again I'll send you the link. Arlene, you mom sounds like quite a lady -- I'd love to see a picture of her. I'm so glad she's doing better and ready to get back to her old life -- she's quite a fighter by the sounds of it. Good for her - you are such a great daughter -- glad you have such a good relationship with her - it's nice to hear about. I miss my mom and wish I could have some more time with her now that I'm older I think we'd have a better relationship. So please hear me when I tell you to enjoy her and be thankful she's still in your life -- once she's gone you'll miss her everyday. Well, DH isn't up yet so I think I'll get dressed and go work out. Have a good day everyone. Linda