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Hello my name is Kelli (Beach Lover) and I am a carbaholic! It is an addiction just like alcohol and we have to recognize it for what it is. I have learned this about myself and I know that I have to stay away from the darn things. Don't be surprised if you spend the next 24 hours cravings all kinds of stuff!! Ignore the cravings so it will back off. Few carbs only good ones! This is my biggest strategy for losing and maintaining once I get to that point. You did terrific for calling on help you knew you were weak so you took action! Good for you that is a victory in and of itself!! Be proud of that and hide the brownies!!

Well, I just came back from Atlantic City this weekend and gained 1.5 pounds...all from drinking too much alcohol. But the good news is today is Wednesday and I lost three pounds since Sunday so I am back down. I've been working my ass at the gym and really strict with my eating. I did my first spin class at the gym today and made it through!!!! I'm finally on the up swing of my journey. Three more pounds till I hit Onerville.

Rvingdi - I know exactly how you feel. I get totally out of control with food all the time and every time is worse than the last. For me it's like I'm an alcoholic except with food. When I cut out all the junk, it's hard for a few days, but then gets better. But if I eat one little thing, it's back to eating bad again. Right now on my pre-op diet I'm eating well. It had to take something extreme to make me eat well though (being banded). Just stay clean of junk for a few days, will yourself through it, and you'll probably feel like you can do it the next day and then the next and then the next. Take it one day at a time. Linda

Hi all, I weigh 217lbs with a BMI of 37 and have yoyoed all my life with dieting. I'm 32 years old and I just set my surgery date for January 17th which has me both excited and very nervous. I am very active, exercising about 4-5 times a week so food is really where I lack control. It sounds silly but one of the things I am most nervous about is my social life. I live in Trinidad & Tobago and my husband and I socialise a lot and Trinidad has a big drinking, partying and eating culture! I see the life post surgery as a path to getting healthy, exercising more and my husband and I are even talking about setting a goal of participating in a 5k late next year. I'm curious how others have dealt with a big change in their social lifestyles. I noticed a few of you discussing Thanksgiving, how have you dealt/ plan to handle the holiday. We do not have Thanksgiving but Christmas and Carnival are huge celebrations surrounded with food and alcohol. At Christmas you go from house to house and it's seen as rude to not have a drink or something to eat!

We can do it, Laura! I'm detoxing. Turns out that I'm mid-cycle now and the weight jump isn't too surprising, nor is the desire to snack. Was back to my same 'ole number this morning. The very day after I reported my loss here I bounced back to the number I've been pretty constantly seeing (142.4) for several weeks now. I got a little up, go a little down, but I always settle right back here. Dang it. At least I'm not up like yesterday. So, confession: I've been logging my food at the end of the day instead of at the start of the day. This is not working for me! So today, I already have my food planned out. I am drinking two Protein Shakes today and eating Protein heavy meals all day. I'm hoping to kick the carb cravings - I got some bad habits while the kids were here because they eat a lot of snack foods we normally don't have in the house. Why can I walk past an entire container of homemade Cookies or danishes but not a bag of salt and vinegar chips? All that stuff is leaving the house - usually it's not here, if we want chips, I make them. So the processed stuff needs to leave because right now I'm having a hard time staying away from it all. Introduce any stress and it gets much harder for me to abstain. Sure, I only eat a handful of chips. But I do it EVERY day. That can't be good. Secretly, I'm scared that one day I'll just lose my mind and hide in a closet and eat them all. The fact that it hasn't happened yet doesn't mean it can't happen. There is no longer a skinny woman inside me screaming to get out. There's a fat woman inside me and she wants the food. ALL OF IT. So I have to shut her up with protein shakes. chocolate ones. I've got my limits. Anyway, I'm also curbing my coffee intake. I've been drinking quite a bit of it and want to see how I feel without it. You know, besides tired. And I'm proud to say that once I decided a few weeks ago to stop using alcohol daily I have only had a drink here or there. Nothing regular and there's no time of the day where I just feel like it's beer or wine time and I need a drink. This is a good thing. Hope everyone is well. Happy Weekend! We're dragging the kids off to tot Shabbat (ugh...as if spending an hour with thirty other kids six and under wasn't bad enough we're doing it outside in the muggy buggy woods) because hubs insists and I've been finding excuses not to go for the last two months. Ah well, I knew it couldn't last. ~Cheri

Just reading this thread today has been a journey with so many emotions. It just goes to show, everyone has a story. And as I read each response, especially about the fatsuit, the use of food, I think, "we sound exactly like recovering alcoholics or drug users" Avoid people and situations that we frequented in our "using" days, avoid triggers... fall off the wagon, get back on, abstinence ... This VST support group, you guys, are invaluable. So much awful has happened in the last year and a half; lost my job, broke up with my boyfriend, lost my father, lost my home, audited by the IRS, deployed to Afghanistan, death and destruction all around, fear, and now my health. There are 6 people in my world who know this, you will be the 7th en toto. I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, also known as MS. That is the real reason why I went to Germany, we don't have MRI capabilities here. I am 31. Devastated is a paltry word, not nearly covering what I have felt since the soft diagnosis July 17th or the confirmed dx on September 23rd. Bereft, grief-stricken, angry, depressed, hopeless, angry, sad, flat, scared shitless. While I was in Germany I had good commercial internet access, wifi, and I was able to spend a lot of time on YouTube, looking up people's video diaries about life with MS, treatment, etc. That is how I discovered Dr. Terry Wahls and her protocol. I encourage you all to look up her TedTalk on Youtube. It's not just that she started eating salads and voila her MS is gone. No. But being a Dr., and being willing to experiment on herself, and having nothing to lose, she started doing her research. She wrote a book called Minding my Mitochondria (god how I wish I could get that book). Long story short, she was confined to a tilt recline wheelchair and now rides horses through the rockies and rides her bike to work every day. So, I'm stuck here because if I were sent home, where would I go? I have no home, I truly am homeless. If I were sent to the US, I would be unemployed, which means no health insurance. Because of the IRS I now have no nest egg to fall back on. Bizarre as it may seem, I am getting better support and care out here than I would be in the US. And so I do what I can to attempt to follow the Wahl's Protocol. It calls for 9 cups of veggies a day, all colors, sulfurus. No wheat, dairy, soy, or corn. Obviously no sugar. Lots of omega 3 rich foods, B6,B12, and D, grass fed hormone free etc. organ meats, seaweed or other iodine rich foods, and electrotherapy for muscle stimulation. MS is a neurological condition which, more and more, Drs are starting to realize a link between neuro and autoimmune disorders, which in turn they are discovering are linked to gut health/permeability. So it may all have started with Leaky Gut Syndrome, I don't know. All I know is that at 31 yrs old, I had only just one beautiful year of living, post VSG. One year of being a real woman with potential and a future and life and beauyty. The song from Rent, "will I lose my dignity" keeps running through my head, ..."will I wake tomorrow, from this nightmare?"

Hi guys! Just caught up and I am so glad I am up to date with this busy thread - I get busy during the day and tell myself I need to login or I am going to have a heck of a time catching up - I am sure is it the same for us all. Okay first off - does anyone have our list of names - I spent 45 minutes one day trying to dig through our massive thread and find it to no avail - I would be hugely grateful if anyone could share Or even give me an idea of what number of pages it might be located. Coops thanks so much for the Amazon link to the menopause book - I am going through it though I still am having somewhat regular periods - gonna be 50 this year in October woo It really feels like an emotional rollercoaster somedays - just like I have lost my mind haha. Beautiful corsets ladies - Feed and Jane you look lovely! I am still getting used to having anything touch my middle with clothing - I spent so long in tent-sized clothing, right at the edge of 5x and needing specialty clothes that I think that only now am I realizing what clothing that actually fits looks and feels like - even things that fit perfectly sometimes make me feel very exposed and afraid people will stare and make fun on me (when my squishy is very well hidden in clothes.) As hubby says "no more hobo clothes" (you must image the little designer from The Incredibles saying this lol.) Sarah - I am so sad to hear that your dear friend is struggling with drugs. My ex before my husband, whom I was with for many years was a recovering heroin addict - we lived in NYC and I experienced him falling off the sobriety/clean wagon which was agony for all of us around him (an episode of Intervention is about the level of madness I am talking about). I also grew up in a home with alcoholic family members - I seriously believe I am an addict with food - its just my drug of choice. Know that she is the one who has to want it - no matter what, she will be the one that does it for herself. I know that if I can quit smoking after 28 years of 2 packs a day then anyone on the face of this earth can stop their addictions too. One day at a time. That same partner also came out of the closet during that time - (I call this time my floral dress era - desperately trying to feel pretty again) and within a year he had contracted AIDS - he is still living with aids but doing much better - living in L.A. and seems happy. I feel like I dodged a serous bullet with that one. Speaking of one day at a time - I went to my very first Overeaters Anonymous meeting last weekend. I enjoyed it very much and plan to keep going - I was inspired by the honesty and sharing of the group - when I spoke I bawled like a little baby haha (maybe its those pesky menopause demons) and the group was very accepting of the fact that I had surgery - they were very interested in hearing about my experience. There were big folks and little ones - many had lost 100's of lbs and gained them back - some had maintained - just like all of us. I will check out other meetings around my area and see what those are like - it felt like a good reboot and have been seriously detoxing from the sugar since that meeting last Saturday. Here's a question, what are your guys bounces ranges and how to do determine them? Florinda - I am sorry you felt that you had to conceal your losses, but I am thrilled that you have lost your regain and then some! Learning to be kind to ourselves is just as big a part of all of this as anything. Lets all work on seeing how far we have come - I know I look to all of you as wonderful, inspiring successes, each and everyone one I can confide in and reveal the best and worst - the hardest of my struggles. I had great success off the bat with 5:2 then have struggled a lot with the holidays - it is my own fault really - it has been an orgy of baked carbs...I never used to like this stuff, but now it is the easiest thin to crunch up and goes down easy -I then I get lightheaded and woozy, oftentimes sick...just like a needle in the arm lol. I never got a goal weight from my docs or nutritionists, but one of them did mentioned that he thought I would end up at around 175. So that has been my upper limit with this recent gaining frenzy - or I should say that is my freak out weight lol. My husband just wants me to be happy at any weight around where I am - he seems to love my body - squishy and all - trying to come around to his viewpoint. I have noticed that cutting out even a bit of the sugar has helped tremendously this week with cravings - I have a milk issue with lattes, and when you get right down to it milk is a carb/sugar even if it is loaded with good stuff - I swear I would go drink milk from a cow on the side of the road if it was an emergency haha. I feel very successful at not having latte's on the way to work, at work, or on the way home from work every day this week - remember this is Seattle, that is a HUGE deal haha Love you guys

Sheryl, I am really happy for you! He sounds so great! How old is he? If he's fit, and not on medication, he probably won't have an ED problem. My last bf was really good in bed, and rarely had problems, but if he did, I could "help him" Alcohol is another story, but he rarely drank any. As far as Bill goes, I do love Bill, but it shouldn't have to be this difficult. We have nothing in common. He can't hike because of his health, he hates the kinds of movies I like, etc. We work around it, but it's difficult. I've already shared with you that he has ED problems and the sex is not great. The other guy is older, and I know nothing about him and could have ED as well. I just want to talk to him, for now, and find out why we went out before and all I remember is talking to him on the phone and him sitting on my couch. Maybe it was because I was fat. I JUST can't remember and it's driving me nuts. Bill is really bugging me to buy a motorhome together because he loves to camp. We would both put equal amounts for a down payment and split the payments and it would be in both of our names. I am SO not ready for that. Florinda, you need to talk to Jack about sex,and things not being right with each other lately. Do you video chat, or talk on the phone? Is it possible for you to take a train to Eugene? or How about meeting in Portland? Tell him it's important that you two talk, and you can't live like this!

Laura, the test I took that may indicate higher cortisol is the: EOSINOPHILS ABS 0.1-0.3 K/MM3 0.05 L A lower-than-normal eosinophil count may be due to: Alcohol intoxication (not! in this case) Over production of certain steroids in the body (such as cortisol) so really, I am only guessing here... will find out more next month some time....

Not managed to fit in a fast yet over the holidays, though I have managed to exercise twice. Out tonight with friends which no doubt will involve alcohol and food. Tomorrow house it to be cleared of any cakes/sweets etc and all alcohol will be put in the garage for the month of January. I am also going to commit to using mfp every day. For everyone who is having difficulties this holiday, especially Globe, my commiserations and prayers. Tomorrow is a new start (everyday is a new start , it does not have to be New Year) and it is the year I am going to hit my personal goal, help hubby start his own fitness trail so he can reach good health, move house(?) and support hubby while he looks for a new job. I'm sure there will be many more ups and downs, hoping for the downs to be just in the weight department. Happy New Year everyone.

CGJane - Yes, 20 lbs with the nasal tube but unfortunately I cannot continue with it; I am simply too delicate internally, my nasal passages, my esophagus, couldn't handle the trauma. So, that 's 20 pounds off which is great, but I am still 50 lbs over my target weight, the target weight that I never got to, even though I got to surgeon's (prior to regain). I always want to eat, I eat to soothe anxiety, even anxiety about becoming anxious. Like an alcoholic, I don't need a reason to want to eat. v_v I am most likely the third category of Cathy's test, wherein I require physical restriction that makes me incapable of overeating.

Okay so the guy I went out with on Saturday just isn't my type, but he was nice. He's the 24 year old, so I am 10 years older than him. And although I have a few body piercings, I don't have them on my face, which he DOES. And he smokes, which I DON'T. But I knew these things beforehand, so I thought I would give it a try. We ate Mexican and saw a movie, don't go see the Hitcher, it's lame. We didn't hit it off, but i really didn't expect us to, so no biggie. I do like him, and I think he and my brother would be great friends, so I may get them together over a beer, or something. Tonight, I met the blind date for dinner. We have been talking on the phone since Friday, so I knew a little bit about him, his background etc. so we had stuff to talk about. He wasn't exactly what I pictured based on his voice, but not in a bad way. He's not Brad Pitt, but he's attractive. I let him smooch me on the lips, it was ackward, but I think I will see him again. So it wasn't the romantic mushy dinner I was hoping for, but it'll do. Oh yeah, and one of my friends at work doubles as a lounge singer, and knows lots of single boy toys for me to get acquainted with, so maybe I will have lots more dates. Yay!! I really just wanted to get back into the swing of dating, I fear I have lost it:faint: completely. OHOHOH yeah, I almost forgot to tell ya, I was a size 22 pre surgery, and now into 16 comfortably, and I can cross my legs again!! I have a joke for you. This lady is at the bar, a guy asks if he can buy her a drink, she says no thanks, alcohol does bad things to my legs. Guy asks what does it do? Make your legs swell or something? Lady says "no, it makes them open". Ha ha got that by email today. Sorry if it offended someone, my bad I won't do it again. BTW, don't ask where the body jewelry is located, not telling.:biggrin1: Peace out, Kristi

BAND EATING GUIDELINES, NUTRITION, FOODS and TIPS FOR BAND SUCCESS Basic Lap-Band Eating Rules Goals: To prevent vomiting or PB’ing, which can endanger your band. To produce healthy, slow weight loss. To adopt improved eating habits that will last for life, so you can MAINTAIN your weight loss this time. To regain good nutritional status. <DIR><DIR>Choose only good band foods. (most of the time – no one is perfect!) Choose only high quality foods, since you are eating so little. You’re worth the best! Start with a tiny bite – the size of a PEA. Chunks of food, or swallowing larger amounts, will block or hurt the stoma. Chew very well – a minimum of 15-20 times per bite. Later, you can adjust this to your own needs. Eat slowly. Put the fork DOWN between bites and listen for your "full" signal. Learn to savor every bite. Wolfing food must be in the past. No fluids with meals, or for one hour after eating. (Some docs stress 2 hours) No carbonation, as it is related to pouch dilation and erosions. Beer has carbonation, too. Eat the protein first, then the veggies, then other things if you have room. With a good fill, aim for about 1 cup mostly-solid food per meal. More can stretch your pouch. Eat for a maximum of 20-30 minutes only. Longer than this, and food will be leaving the pouch as you put more in, and you will take in too many calories. Don’t lie down for 2 hours after a meal. If you nap after lunch, use a recliner. An excellent time for exercise is after eating. Aim for 3 small, regular and planned meals a day, with 2 small protein snacks, if needed. With a good fill, you should not be hungry between meals, if you are choosing good Band foods. Before a good fill, do the best you can to choose only healthy foods, and limit quantities. Avoid eating solids within 2-3 hrs of bedtime, as this encourages reflux. Avoid taking medications at bedtime – take them one hour before bedtime with a full glass of water, to get them through the pouch. Meds at bedtime also encourage reflux. NEVER get more fill if you are having ANY trouble. You MUST master one level of fill before going higher. AVOID ALL liquid calories, once you are back on soft or regular foods. This includes juices and protein drinks. See "FOODS TO AVOID" for more information on this. </DIR></DIR>Band Nutritional Needs Goals: To obtain the needed nutrition to lose slowly and safely, so you can MAINTAIN your loss. To replenish nutrients you may not have gotten with previous, futile diet attempts. To start to regain your Health and prevent future diet-related illnesses and disease. . THE AVERAGE LOSS WITH THE BAND IS 1-2 # A WEEK, AVERAGED OVER A MONTH’S TIME. DO NOT EXPECT MORE! (If you are getting ALL the nutrients you need, and still lose faster – GREAT!) We also will never lose at a steady rate, or lose every single week or month. Regular breaks are normal and expected! <DIR><DIR>At least 1200-1500 cal a day, as soon as you have recovered from surgery and are able. Less than this, and you will likely not lose well, and you will be nutritionally deficient. The Band is about regaining health, not simply weight loss. LESS is NOT BETTER, and will easily stall weight loss. A good goal for most women is 1200-1500 cal a day, with a good fill. For most men, about 1600-2000 cal a day. Heavier people may need more at first, like 1800-2200 cal or more a day. . Figure out your BMR if you want to be specific, but this is not needed. Women: 50-60 grams of solid protein daily. (averaged over a week is fine) </DIR>25 gm fiber. (You may need a supplement if unable to obtain through food.) 1200 mg Calcium – if under 50 yrs of age 1500 mg Calcium if 50 or over and NOT on Estrogen. (CA supplements like chewable Viactiv are excellent) Men: 60-80 grams of solid protein daily (averaged over a week is fine) 25 grams fiber. 1200 mg calcium 4. 64-100 oz per day MINIMUM of no-calorie fluid, more in hot weather or with heavy exercise. Crystal light and other VERY low-cal fluids are ok. 2 glasses of nonfat milk daily are fine, for the Calcium content 5. Minimize or delete alcohol and coffee. Both are known gastric irritants, and alcohol is full of useless calories. Perhaps "buffer" the coffee with a non-fat milk, which adds protein too. 6. One daily, adult, chewable multi-vitamin. One additional daily B complex (Biotin) may also be helpful, but other supplements are not needed. Bandsters absorb all vitamins and minerals in food normally. Good Band Foods <DIR>Soft, high-quality meat, fish, chicken. Keep moist with low-cal sauces, gravies, marinade, lowfat gravies, salsas. Lean pork is excellent, and has fewer calories than chicken. Cook foods gently over lower heat. BBQ may be too dry. Avoid frying and greasy foods. Crock pots, pot roasts and stews are excellent to cook slowly and retain moisture. </DIR></DIR>3. Fiber cereals and fiber crackers. Read labels – Kashi Go Lean "Crunch" is full of protein and fiber. <DIR><DIR>Veggies. Non-fat dairy – nonfat milk, yogurt, cottage cheese, lowfat cheese. Small quantities of lower-cal fruits. Veggies have ALL the vits and minerals of fruit, but far fewer calories. Calories DO count! Lettuce Salads are NOT good nutrition, or good Band foods. Really! They have few calories and next-to-no nutrition, despite what we thought! Eat REAL, solid, nutritious food that will fill you and leave the pouch slowly. We’re NOT trying to eat as few calories as possible but ENOUGH to lose well. A Nice Chef Salad is fine, but eat all the good protein first, then a few bites of lettuce if you have room. </DIR></DIR> Good Bandster Snacks <DIR><DIR>Soft beef jerky, like Tillamook brand String cheese (lowfat) Yogurt, like Dannon "Lite N, Fit" – only 60 cal a cup. Carrots and celery, maybe dipped in nonfat salad dressing like Miracle Whip Air-popped popcorn (only) – no fats or oils. Nice crunch! Rice cakes – 50 cal each, and great crunch Baked, lowfat crackers with fiber – Triscuit, Wheat Thins Fiber cereal and nonfat milk Small, peeled apple or other lower-calorie fruit Low-cal fruit pop or lowfat ice cream/fudgesickle treat Hard-boiled egg, dipped in a nonfat dressing if you like Calorie-free hard candy. (Be careful! Sugar-free does not mean Calorie–free!!) </DIR> </DIR>Foods to Avoid / Problem Foods <DIR>Goal: To use your small pouch space for only the best nutrition and foods that will advance your weight loss. To AVOID barfing, and/or plugging up your stoma. <DIR>Potatoes, rice, white pasta, all breads/bagels – they are poor nutrition, and often plug up the stoma. ( The soy-based pastas are great, and have great fiber and protein. www.nutritionkitchen.com ) DRY foods – dry meat, dry salmon, dry crackers, dry eggs. Use low-cal sauces, gravies, marinades, salsas to moisten foods. A crockpot or slow cooker is ideal for cooking soft meats and fish. Citrus and fruit membranes are hard to chew adequately – cross-cut into tiny pieces, chew very well. Poor quality meats with fat and gristle are often not tolerated. Choose a small, soft, high-quality steak or other meat instead. STRINGY foods can be hard to chew well – artichokes, broccoli STALKS AVOID peels – apple, pear, peach, tomato, grape etc – very hard to chew well enough. Peel fruits. Eat RAISINS individually and chew very well. NO LIQUID CALORIES – an important basic Band Rule. Avoid all juices, (nothing but sugar water) sodas (diet or not), and caloried fluids. VERY low-cal fluids like Crystal Light are fine. V8 is only 50 cal a glass, and full of vits. </DIR>You may also have 2 glasses of nonfat milk per day, if you like, to meet calcium needs. <DIR>Mimimize alcohol. Protein drinks are also just liquid calories and good to AVOID once you are back onto soft foods. The Band does not work with ANY FLUID. Solids require burning of calories to digest. Liquids do not. Liquids like protein drinks also do not keep you full. MOST foods will work fine, if you remember to start with pea-sized bites and then CHEW VERY WELL. This just takes time and practice to learn new habits. </DIR></DIR> Stop Eating at the First Sensation of "Full" 1. "Full" with the band is means: "comfortable, just enough, satisfied, not hungry any longer." It does NOT mean "stuffed, uncomfortable, way too much." (as before banding) If you get this full with the band, you will likely vomit and have problems. 2. Learn your own "soft stop" signals. They can be one or more of the following: a single burp, a single hiccup, a sudden sneeze, sudden runny nose, sinus pressure, pressure in the center of your chest, general uncomfortable feeling in your chest, abdomen, or back, shoulder pain. Stop eating! Even if you must spit out what is already in your mouth. A "hard stop" is when you have missed the "soft stop" signs, and continue to eat more so You vomit or "slime". 3. It may take awhile for your eyes and brain to accept that the small portion on your plate really is enough food. Just takes practice. Tips for Eating out <DIR><DIR>Consider ordering an appetizer for your entrée. Things like a shrimp cocktail are ideal. Then, </DIR>Maybe, nab a few bites of a veggie, if you have room, from your friend or spouse. <DIR>Don’t even go into fast food places. Avoid the temptation. One fatty, junk meal there will likely sabotage several day’s worth of good efforts. It will also not keep you full. </DIR>3. Plan your meals and choose only good places. Avoid "all you can eat" places. 4. Ask for a "doggie bag" when you order. When the meal comes, put everything except a small Bandster portion into the doggie bag and out of sight. General tips <DIR>Plan healthy meals ahead of time. This helps avoid grabbing whatever is in sight. Stick to your grocery list. Never shop for food when you are hungry. A good time is right after breakfast or lunch. Aim for 3 meals a day, with possibly 1-2 small PLANNED protein snacks. Avoid grazing all day. The band will not work with grazing, or with soft or liquid calories. Eat more veggies and less fruit. Fruit is largely sugar, and veggies have all the same vitamins and minerals, with far fewer calories. Put only a small Bandster portion of food on your plate. Don’t eat from a large platter. Try new foods, and foods you didn’t like before. After banding, our tastes often change, and you’ll find you really like some new things. Try fish –Talapia, especially, is delicious and excellent, soft protein in an easy-to-eat form. Try all veggies again, and with good sauces. Be creative! Try using a salad-sized plate and a cocktail-sized fork and spoon, if you have trouble accepting that that small portion is all you need. Drink a full glass of cold water right before eating, as this will help fill you, as well as lubricating your throat and mouth so it is easier not to drink with meals. If you have pain with the first few bites, this may be esophageal spasms. Try drinking a cup of hot fluid right before you start to eat, to relax the stoma. If not better, ask for help online and from your doctor. There is medication that can be used, if needed, and possibly a very small unfill. Any good Heart-Healthy cookbook will have great recipes, if you choose those with good Band foods. </DIR>Eating tips: <DIR>Don’t expect to change old habits overnight. It took us many years to become obese, and it will take weeks and months to change those bad habits for the better. No one is perfect. Just continue to do better and better every day. Make a small sign to put in front of you at the table: TINY BITES! CHEW! These will become automatic with time and practice, and are very essential. Turn off the TV and distractions. Concentrate on eating correctly. Remove glasses of fluid from your place at the table, to avoid temptation. Drink a big glass of water shortly before eating, to lubricate your mouth and throat. Then you will not need to drink with meals. This is called "Water Loading" and will help fill you – for NO calories. Use a cocktail-sized fork and spoon to help you remember "tiny bites." Use a salad plate to make your meals look bigger. Make it a point to sit down at the table for all meals, where you can eat consciously and pay attention to what you are doing. Turn off the TV and other distractions. Stews and crockpots are ideal – moist, soft meat and veggies. Avoid the potatoes and rice. Some frozen entrees are good for lunches, as long as you choose the ones with no potatoes, rice, or pasta. Watch the salt, too, as it causes water retention. The Weight Watchers Smart Choice meals with meat and veggies only are excellent. Plan healthy meals and include regular small treats. Don’t grab whatever is in sight for dinner. Enlist the help of your family so you are all eating healthier and avoiding junk and sweets, except for the occasional treat. Children, especially, need a good diet, as there is a great increase in young children developing diabetes from poor diet and lack of exercise. Don’t even have junk in the house. Don’t buy a gallon of ice cream. Avoid the temptation. If you decide to have an ice cream treat, GO OUT to get one cone or dish. </DIR>Medications <DIR>All meds should be smaller than an aspirin, which is about the size of the stoma. You may need to use liquid meds, or a different brand, or cut up tabs. Be sure the meds you take CAN safely be cut – your pharmacist is a good resource for this. Be especially careful of antibiotics, as they are very irritating to the stoma and have caused many problems. Liquid antibiotics are safest, but SMALL capsules or cut-up tabs are ok if washed through. Follow ALL meds with a full glass of water or milk, to wash them completely through the pouch. Generally, all NSAIDS should be avoided, as they are severe gastric irritants. A few days may be allowed by your doc, if there is no choice – but be very cautious. A few people may have no choice but to take NSAIDs, for severe arthritis, for instance. They should be carefully followed. Avoid taking any medications right at bedtime – take them one hour before, to avoid reflux. </DIR>Problems <DIR>If you vomit, stop eating. Have nothing more for 1-2 hours, then you may have liquids again. Have liquids only for the next meal, to allow your stoma time to rest and heal. Vomiting causes irritation and swelling of the stoma. Think of why you vomited, so you can prevent it the next time: Eating too fast? Too big a bite? Not chewing well enough? Drinking with or within an hour after eating? Choosing poor band foods? Didn’t stop eating soon enough? If you feel as if something is really stuck in your stoma, don’t panic. There is no immediate danger. DO NOT try to eat or drink anything more, as this will make it worse. Put a warm heating pad on your chest to relax the stoma. If you continue with problems for more than a few hours, call your surgeon. </DIR></DIR>PLEASE Don’t Despair! These may seem like a lot of rules and guidelines, but they will all become automatic, with time and practice. Most of us have many years of poor eating habits to change, and this cannot be done overnight. Remember, what you WERE doing led to your obesity, so there must be changes made if you want to lose weight and get healthy again, and then MAINTAIN your loss. These goals are all the IDEAL – but No one can do everything perfectly, and the Band does not require perfection. YOU CAN DO THIS!! A few of these points may differ slightly from your own doctor’s suggestions, so discuss them with him/her. All the above incorporates all the basic band rules from the manufacturer, from the Inamed Patient Guide, from the Inamed classes for Band professionals, from general nutritiona basic needs, and from my own successful band journey, as well as the great many Bandsters I have both taught and learned from over the past 3+ years. Band knowledge is still evolving and improving every day. The Period Before the First Fill Most people find that their hunger returns a few days after surgery. This is entirely normal. The band is not working, for most, until they get to a good fill level. You may be unable to eat much at a time for a few days or even a few weeks, until the surgical swelling goes down. It’s essential, still, to get in enough fluids – at least 64 oz a day. If you cannot, please call your surgeon. You also need some good calories and protein to heal and have good energy, so choose good foods as allowed on your post-op diet. Many are able to eat as much as before banding, until they have a good fill. Many do not lose weight in the first 6-8 weeks, unless they are very careful to choose low-cal foods and start with good exercise. Before a good fill, you will probably be able to eat the foods that will cause trouble later. But start to learn and practice all the Band rules even now, so there are fewer sudden changes needed later. C Sandy Richards, BA, BSN, MN, Clinical Nurse Specialist Dr. Pedro Kuri, banded 3/25/03 Maintaining at goal for> 2.5 years as of July, 2006 www.BandsterME.com - Bandster Motivation and Education Site, and "LapBand Success" Guide Imagery CD’s for Bandster behavioral changes http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/SmarterBandsters/ - Sandy and Dan’s online Band teaching forum – personal answers to all band questions and concerns http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Dr_Kuri/ - Dr. Kuri’s private online teaching and support Forum MoonshadowRN@yahoo.com - Sandy’s email address <DIR> </DIR>

Oh yeah, I also cut out ALL liquid calories. That means no more mochas in the morning, no more hot coffees in the afternoon, no more alcohol in the evenings (except on a rare occasion). I have started drinking green tea at work, hot because it seems like I am ALWAYS cold. OF course the rain where we are doesn"T help much.

you forgot the alcohol for some ...

Hey Guys, Just checking in. Its exactly a week since I was banded and I feel pretty good. Ive pulled my bandaids off and my incisions are healing pretty well. Im getting a little over the liquid stage and have introduced a few creamy Soups (with a bit of watering down) so feel a bit better, cant wait to get onto muchies in another week though. I still havent started an excercise regime but promised myself Id start on Monday. Ive still lost 5.8 kilos (12.8 pounds) so far anyway but I imagine that a bit of that will come back on on the mushie stage. Is that usual? Last night I was a bit naughty, I had a spoonfull of my friends spagetti bolognaise and chewed, chewed, chewed to death. Felt fine juts very full. After our movie I had half a glass of red wine (I would have normally had half the bottle or more or beer which is what he had - killed me). Im not sure if we are allowed to have alcohol in the liquid stage, anyone know? I felt fine just a bit tipsy but I put that down to lack of food. (With my bowl of Soup and half a glass of red wine, he joked I was the cheapest date Id ever been - true ha ha) Anyway just wanted to check in to keep me on the right path. Lily x

I had my first fill on Aug. 20th. I went in expecting it to hurt. It was completely painless. The PA poked around to find my port, wiped my belly with alcohol, I put my arms over my head and looked at the ceiling. Then she stuck me, and put the fill in. I didn't feel the "stick" at all. She only put 2ccs in and it felt "weird". I sat up and she gave me Water to drink. It wouldn't go all the way down, so she had to stick me again to do an unfill. She took 1 cc out and left 1cc in. The ONLY thing that hurt at all was when she pulled the dang band-aid off to do the unfill. I HATE band-aids.:thumbup: The fill, however, was completely painless.

Hi everyone - It's Tabitha here. I started this thread over 2 years ago, and just when I was much closer to my goal, I quit coming here because life happens. Needless to say, I am back, because I need to recommit. There is good news, however. The past two years I saw many challenges with regards to my weight. I actually went back up to 274lbs. The good news is that today, I sit at 244lbs. Only 10lbs heavier than where I was at my lowest, when I last posted here, and also 55lbs lighter than my surgery weight. Given that, I have to admit that while a part of me still feels like a failure, I am happy that I have been able to somewhat maintain or control. Every year since starting this thread, I have become a year older weighing less than I did the year before. I take pride in that. But there is still a lot of work to do. I need to get to my elusive goal. I figure that even if I lose 20lbs while on here, then it will be 10 lbs lower than i remember being a long time ago, and if i can maintain that for another 2 years, I would be so proud. so here I am ladies & gents - Back on track. What I will do differently is this: a) I hope to make a close accountability partner on here, who ultimately can exchange phone #'s with. I hope that when I stop appearing on here, which is the #1 sign I am slipping, they can call me and have me come back and post. This accountability will help me stay on track. I will do the same for them. I know it will take a few months of messages and slowly building trust, but like alcoholics, I hope i can get a lapband sponsor/accountability partner. :smile: This time, I will work out. I have worked out 5 days int he past 7 days. I have found out that waking up in the AM makes it doable. I always have excuses in the PM. c) I will make short term goals. My goal for the next one week is to work out 4 days. Will you do this with me? Can we do it?? I say that WE CAN and WE WILL~! Let's be each other's accountability partners. I look forward to breaking barriers with you and achieving out ultimate goals, together. Here's to success!!!

I waited a month before I had any alcohol.

Fholts, I am praying for you right now. Sometimes I think things are out of our hands and we have to ask God for help. He will not let you down. I have experienced alot of the same things you are going through but I know everyone's is different. I have a wonderful husband, he makes a wonderful living, and takes care of us very well, but I'm just 2 weeks out banded and I try to keep up with him but when I can't he gets really mad and tells me to just go to bed. I rode 4 wheelers for over 6 hours yesterday and helped my son work on his before he wrecked and today I just don't feel good and it's his day off so now he's pissed off at me. I tell him I'm doing the best I can. Then my son who just had the accident, he's almost 19, living at home, loves to party with friends and drink alcohol. It's so hard on our marriage and I pray everyday God will take care of him and us. He says he's enlisting in the Army and although I will never quit crying when he does I know it's for the best for him. Just try to think positive and try to take some time each day if your religious to ask for God's help, and we'll all be praying for you as well. Try when your attacks comeon to go some where peaceful to get your thoughts together and relax. You can do this and we're all here if you need to talk, pm me I would feel honored to talk to you or just post on here we're always here for each other. In a way we're all family. We have had something done to our bodies that just not everybody has, so we have a bond. Love you and sending hugs your way, Sherri

I'm so so so glad you're comin Tracy, I was gonna cry a lil too if you weren't there :embaressed_smile: And, I'm not as much as a lush as I talk. Alcohol hurts me, so I only drink 'for real' once in a blue moon. I may sip on something, but odds are I won't be drunk

Good morning, I went to a support group last night and found that my surgeon does not require a pre op diet. As long as I keep my 15% off. I'm getting excited. Less then three weeks now. I got my letter from the hospital yesterday with all my dates and times listed. Last nights mtg was about what you wish you knew prior to surgery... Some points were... The pain in the left lower rib area is normal, feel free to call the Doctor anytime something concerns you,be prepared that you can not gulp water again,be prepared that your food choices will change post op due to taste buds, buy a bento box for going back to solid foods, So many more things to think about too. Oh and they said to get a buddy. Have someone that you can call and say ,,,help I want to eat..... As they talk you down! I am hoping for this group to help me! My protein shake I chose was "metRx" I got peanut butter flavor. It has 110 cal, 2 gm fat 1 sugar and 23 gmail of protein! I mix it in almond milk. Sadly, they said don't drink your calories..ie alcohol ..lol but in time you cam again!

I was sleeved on Aug 4th 2015. I've been losing my hair pretty regularly and noticeably for about a month now. I take biotin and use Bosley hair products. My diet is very varied.....I drink coffee and have alcohol fairly regularly. I drink a green smoothie with Unjury protein powder everyday and really just eat when I'm hungry. I'm down about 100lbs, roughly 65lbs since surgery.I had some very serious difficulties about 3 weeks after my surgery when I developed pancreatitis...worst 2 weeks of my life...hands down. But I made it through. In one way, I feel like I'm back to "normal living" for lack of a better word. I have my cravings....I'm a carb queen....but when I have those cravings, I'm able to have a couple bites and be satisfied. I don't overdo it and I eat very slowly...which helps. I'm starting my lifestyle classes this wednesday.....I'm guessing it'll be mostly about nutrition, but I'm not sure. I think I'm averaging about a 2-3lb a week weight loss. My only real exercise is walking at the moment.

I know this is an old post, but I wanted to thank you for sharing. I really REALLY needed to hear this right now in my journey. I was sleeved almost exactly 3 years ago. Everything was awesome for the first 18 months. I felt amazing, I got within 9 lbs of my goal weight by 12 months out. I was training for a 10K... then a lot of major life changes, as well. I'm a single mom. Have been for 11 years, so that part wasn't new, but I had my heart broken again in early 2017 (devastated, really), 2 changes of job/career in less than 10 months following that, problems with my teenagers, and a pretty major depression brought on by another heartbreak that I fought for the better part of 6 months recently. I turned to alcohol to numb myself since I couldn't turn to food and, as you can imagine, that did not go well for me. Tons of empty liquid calories and no motivation to exercise or eat right... when I did eat, it was small portions but I was losing the battle to get enough protein and water. I don't list this as excuses, because I know I need to own my poor choices. And I want to start over. I initially lost over 115 lbs and maintained in that range for nearly a year before it fell apart. I've gained back about 85 now. I have been beating myself over it and hoping that its not too late to turn the ship around. I still have the tools... Thank you for letting me know its not out of my reach. I'm trying to get back to basics this week with protein and water... and also am 1 day alcohol free (which doesn't sound like much yet, but I'm motivated to keep going)

Oh wait... you know what? I had 2 cocktails last night. Family came in from ATL and we went to a happy hour. I sipped super super slowly and did not get intoxicated. However, wondering if this is related to dehydration/alcohol/weight loss of 1.6 pounds overnight. I'll observe and report!