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Paula..Fantastic SV & NSV!! Way to go.. Do not drink alcohol with those nerve pills!

My dad passed away this past June. I respected him for the positive things that he did throughout his life. Hitting your kids is inappropriate behavior. His parents hit him and were both alcoholics so he really didn't have a good example to follow. I think perhaps people find it more acceptable when you call it spanking. But hitting is hitting and it's wrong.

You are so right on. I am 4 days post-op depressed and angry. I'm bored out of my mind and all I can think of is food! I know I'm not really that hungry. It's times like these that I really realize how much I depended on food to make things better or to make me feel good. I never knew how much it meant to me. I am also a recovering alcoholic/drug addict, sober now about 5 years and I can say my addiction with food is much stronger. This will pass you are right. Stacy

SylviaT: I think the stuck feeling is the same as the golf ball people talk about. I may be wrong since I am not yet banded and am just going on what I have read. I found this info from the bandsters group and thought it had some great advice. Question: "Hi Everyone, I hope someone can help me who has experienced what I'm currently going through. I had a slight .1 cc fill last friday and ever since I have been coughing up flem and bits of my food at nighttime. I try not to eat after 6:30p. Not to sound gross, but it is mostly flem and liquid. When I get up from bed and walk around, I am totally normal and fine. Do you think it is because of the slight fill or do you think it is a slippage or Hiatal hernia? I had a hiatal hernia repaired last year due to the band. Please let me know if anyone has experienced this." Answer: "That sounds like reflux. Whether it's from your recent fill or a hernia or change in eating, I can't say. But what I do know is it is not something to be ignored. Some things to consider: -Do not lie flat or bend over soon after eating -Do not eat late at night or just before bedtime -Rinse your pouch with a glass of water an hour before bedtime -Certain foods or drinks are more likely to cause reflux: o Rich, spicy, fatty and fried foods o Chocolate o Caffeine o Alcohol o Some fruits and vegetables Oranges, lemons, tomatoes, peppers o Peppermint -Use baking soda toothpaste instead o Carbonated drinks -Eat slowly and do not eat big meals -If you smoke, quit smoking -Reduce stress -Exercise promotes digestion -Raise the head of your bed (not just using extra pillows which can actually worsen reflux) -Wear loose fitting clothing around your waist -Take estrogen containing medications in the morning -Avoid aspirin, Aleve and ibuprofen at bedtime -Take an antacid (Pepcid complete) before retiring -Try other over-the-counter heartburn medications -See your health care provider Try some of these changes and if you don't get relief, I would suggest a visit back to your fill person." I hadn't thought of rinsing my pouch at night by drinking water. I haven't even read them, so I wanted to post them here! Audree

How to Lose 22lbs or 10kgs in 28 Days Without Starving or Training Like an Olympic Athlete!' By Stephen Smith BSc If you seriously want to lose 22lbs or 10 kilograms in 28 days then you must perform all of the principles exactly as recommended. Unlike the recommendations in my book, ‘Look good, feel great!', where you can pick the principles you want to use and ignore the rest and where you can even modify the principles to suit your lifestyle, these principles must be followed exactly as they are outlined. If you want extraordinary results, then you must be willing to put in an extraordinary effort! I realise that some people may be thinking, ‘But it is impossible to lose 10 kilograms of fat in a month!' I agree- it is! However, the truth is, it is impossible to only lose fat on any type of weight-loss program. You will always lose a combination of fat, water, stored carbohydrate and some muscle. Furthermore, most people who want to lose 10 kilograms in the first place are generally retaining excess fluid anyway, so a system that helps get rid of the excess fluid is certainly going to accelerate their results. Perform 30-60 minutes of aerobic exercise morning and night. Yes, you read that correctly, morning and night- 2 sessions a day… every day! No excuses. We're all busy, we all feel tired some mornings, but if you're serious about getting amazing results, then you must be willing to do everything necessary. When we talk about aerobic exercise, we're talking about exercise! Not walking around the shops, doing the gardening or doing housework. It must be exercise, which means your breathing rate increases, your face goes red, you sweat, you get tired- simple! Some examples of aerobic exercise include: walking (pounding the pavement at a brisk pace- not dawdling), cycling (stationary bike is ideal), swimming, rowing, stepper, cross-trainer, aerobic classes, boxing, etc. Use ‘thermogenics'. There are several very effective thermogenic supplementson the market that can accelerate your progress towards your goal. Those containing caffeine, green tea extracts and an extract from a plant called coleus forskohlii are the most effective. They will boost your metabolismand promote the release of fat from the fat stores. ‘Scorch' by MAN Sports is a good example. It contains a combination of 7 powerful herbal ingredients specifically designed to boost your metabolism, burn body fat and increase your energy. Unfortunately though, thermogenics are not ‘magic pills'. You can't expect to take a couple of thermogenic capsules and then go home and eat pizza and drink alcohol and expect to get results. Thermogenics only work when their use is combined with a good nutrition and exercise program. Take 1-2 capsules twice a day; once prior to your morning exercise session and once with your lunch. Don't take them later than 4:00pm in the afternoon because they may keep you awake at night. Before using thermogenics, see your doctor first and obtain their approval. Do not eat anything for 30 minutes after the completion of any exercise. As a result of using the thermogenics combined with the exercise, your metabolism will remain elevated for some time after the exercise session is finished. This means your body will burn fuel at a faster rate than normal. Any exercise causes the body to use carbohydrate (muscle glycogen and blood glucose) as a fuel source. This means that after the exercise is completed the carbohydrate stores in the body are low and the body will be forced to use fat as its fuel. If a meal is eaten immediately after the completion of the exercise session, the blood glucose level will rise, inducing the secretion of insulin from the pancreas. One of the effects of insulin is to stop fat burning in the body. Therefore, wait 30 minutes (but no longer because cortisol will rise) before having your next meal. Perform a weight training workout 2-4 times a week. Lifting weights is the most under-estimated way to lose fat fast! Now, before you start saying, ‘But I don't want to get big muscles!' or ‘I don't want to look like a man!', consider the following. The main purpose of lifting weights when your primary goal is to lose body fat is to preserve the muscle massyou already have. You see, muscle is the ‘engine' within which the fat, or ‘fuel' is burnt and maintaining or even increasing your muscle mass slightly will help ensure your body fat is burnt off efficiently. If you don't lift weights, your body will quite happily lose both fat and muscle as you drop the kilos. Lifting weights forces your body to maintain your muscle mass, therefore keeping your metabolism elevated and turning your body into 24-hour-a-day fat-burning machine! Incidentally, it only takes two 30 minute sessions a week to obtain the muscle preserving benefits of lifting weights. Have 5-6 small meals a day. One of the most common strategies people use to lose weight is to skip meals. Whilst reducing food intake is certainly an effective way to lose weight, having fewer meals is not the way to go. Many overweight people say, ‘I don't know why I'm overweight, I only eat once or twice a day!' Unfortunately, this is exactly why they are overweight. Having a mild calorie restriction is effective because if you consume less calories than you burn each day you will lose weight- simple! However, skipping meals forces the body to invoke its ‘Starvation Mechanism' because it thinks it is entering a famine. As a result, the body slows the metabolism to preserve energy. It also increases cortisol output and cortisol is the most powerful catabolic hormone in the body, which means it goes around the body breaking down lean tissue, particularly muscle. A loss of muscle slows the metabolism even further. Skipping meals also results in an increase in appetite, which forces you to eat larger amounts of food when you do eat. In addition to all these factors, the body also increases the activity of fat-storing enzymes, lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and fatty acid synthase (FAS), so when you do eat the food gets stored as fat. All of this results from simply skipping meals! By having a small meal every 2-3 hours throughout the day, your metabolism stays elevated and your body will happily burn fat all day long. Unfortunately though, most people are conditioned to having large meals and they automatically assume they will put on weight if they have 5 or 6 meals a day. The fact is, the ideal portion sizes for most people are actually quite small and in order to lose weight fast it is essential that you never feel full from a meal but you do feel satisfied. Also, most people find it difficult to have a meal every 2-3 hours throughout the day because they are so busy with work and/ or family commitments. Here are some suggestions to ensure you get your 5 or 6 meals a day. • Plan and prepare your meals the night before • Use meal replacements (protein shakes or bars) • Select foods that are quick and easy to prepare and consume Ensure each meal contains protein. Protein is a component of all cells and makes up over half the dry weight of the human body. Furthermore, the human body is a dynamic structure, which means it is constantly building up and breaking down tissue. Just imagine a bath full of water. At one end of the bath the plug is pulled out and at the other end the tap is turned on full. The water level in the bath doesn't change but there are ‘new' water molecules entering the bath and ‘old' water molecules leaving the bath all the time. The human body is exactly the same. If the body breaks down more tissue than it builds up, then it is said to be in a catabolic state. This results in the metabolism slowing down due to the loss of muscle tissue. Having a portion of high-quality protein every few hours throughout the day provides the body with a constant supply of amino acids- the building blocks of the body. This prevents the catabolic state, promotes an anabolic state (tissue building) and therefore keeps the metabolism ‘fired-up'. If only carbohydrate or fat is consumed for a meal, for example a piece of fruit (carbohydrate) for the mid-morning meal, then the body will still enter a catabolic state because it doesn't have the building blocks (amino acids) to re-build body tissues. Protein, as its name suggests, is of primary importance. Reduce your intake of high-density carbohydrates. Most high-density carbohydrates like bread, pasta, rice and cereals cause a rapid rise in blood glucose. This invokes the release of insulin from the pancreas, which in turn stores the glucose. The body stores glucose in the muscles and liver as glycogen and once these sites are full, the remaining glucose gets stored as body fat. Not only this, but insulin also stops the body from mobilising and utilising fat for fuel (burning fat). So if you want to maximise fat loss, you need to keep insulin to a minimum and the best way to do this is by reducing your intake of starchy carbohydrates without cutting them out altogether. Cutting them out totally is a philosophy of many low-carb diets on the market. However, these are very hard to sustain long-term and may lead to nutrient deficiencies. Each day, have a small amount (1-2 serves) of high density carbohydrates (bread, pasta, rice, cereals); a moderate amount (2-3 serves) of medium density carbohydrates (starchy vegetables and fruits); and a large amount (5-6 serves) of low density carbohydrates (fibrous vegetables). [For a complete list of carbohydrates, see pages 136-138 of the book, ‘ Look good, feel great! ] Do not have a Treat Day. Since you are expecting an extraordinary result, it is essential that you put in an extraordinary effort. Accordingly, for the next 28 days you must follow the plan exactly as it is outlined without deviating. This means you can't allow yourself to indulge in any ‘forbidden foods'. This also means avoiding alcohol for the entire 28-day period. I know this may be hard for some people but let's face it, it is only for 28 days! By committing to the plan and disciplining yourself to see it through, you are ensuring that the results will follow. Plus, the disciplines you create to help you achieve your physical goal will have a ‘carry-over benefit' to other areas of your life as well. I wish you the greatest success in achieving outstanding results! * Before using any nutritional supplement, speak with your health care professional.<!-- google_ad_section_end --><!-- / message -->

You are losing 1-2 pounds per week. If you are not losing 1-2 pounds per week: You may need an eating adjustment<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>1. Are you eating 60 grams of protein a day 2. Are you eating 25 grams of fiber 3. Are you avoiding all liquid calories a. Soup can be sign of “soft calorie syndrome” b. Alcohol contains a lot of calories – 7 calories per gram (1) It’s also a stomach irritant c. Fruit juice is just sugar water 4. Are you making healthy food choices from a wide variety of foods? a. Are you avoiding soft foods b. You can’t just eat what’s easy c. Cheese is glorified fat 5. Are you drinking 6-8 glasses of water a day between meals 6. Are you eating too much junk a. Chips, chocolate, nuts, ice cream, cookies and other highly processed junk foods are too calorically dense to be regular parts of a healthy diet. But don’t avoid them completely to the point where you feel deprived. b. Stay out of fast food places 7. Are you getting in two servings of calcium daily 8. Do you always eat the protein first 9. Then the vegetables or fruits a. Five servings a day b. Potatoes are NOT a vegetable 10. Is your portion size appropriate? a. Meat or fish (1) 3 ounces – the size of a deck of cards b. Vegetables (1) ½ cup – the size of your fist c. Starch (1) If you eat the protein and the vegetables first you don’t need much (2) Avoid: rice, potatoes, pasta 11. You might try avoiding artificial sweeteners a. Some people think that artificial sweeteners stimulate the appetite b. They are HUNDREDS of times sweeter than sugar c. They teach you to like things too sweet d. There is no evidence that people who use them are any thinner than people who don’t 12. Avoid most diet foods a. Real food usually tastes better b. Real food is more satisfying than low calorie substitutes c. When you are only eating a tiny bit the caloric savings is not that great (1) Use a teaspoon of real butter instead of a tablespoon of diet margarine (2) The body has no way to break down artificial fats a. They may go into permanent storage b. Some people think liposuction is the only way to remove hydrolyzed fats from the body You may need a behavior adjustment<o:p></o:p>1. Are you eating only when you are hungry?<o:p></o:p> a. If you’re not sure drink 8 ounces of water and wait. 2. Are you eating three meals a day? a. With maybe 1 or 2 small snacks 3. Are you sitting down to eat? 4. Are you eating consciously? a. No distractions, turn off the TV, put the book or newspaper away, pay attention to your food and your companions 5. Are you eating slowly? a. Put the fork down between bites b. Take 20 to 30 minutes to finish a meal c. Taking longer might cause the pouch to begin emptying 6. Are you taking small bites? a. Tiny spoon, chopsticks, cocktail fork 7. Are you chewing well? 8. Are you drinking with your meals or too soon after your meals? a. Practice water loading between meals b. You won’t be thirsty if you are well hydrated before the meal 9. Are you stopping at the first sign of fullness? a. Sometimes it’s a whisper: not hungry, had enough b. Hard stop versus soft stop 10. Do not eat between meals. Stop grazing. 11. Do not eat when you are not hungry C. You may need an activity adjustment<o:p></o:p> 1. Are you getting in 30 minutes of physical activity at least 3 times a week? a. Over and above what you would do in the usual course of your day b. Could you make it 4 or 5 times a week? c. Could you make it 45 or 60 minutes? 2. Are you taking advantage of opportunities to increase your physical activity? a. Taking the stairs instead of the elevators or escalators b. Walking on the escalators instead of riding c. Parking your car further away from the entrance d. Getting out of the car instead of using the drive through e. Getting off the bus one stop before your destination f. Washing you car by hand instead of the car wash g. Playing with your kids D. You may need an attitude adjustment<o:p></o:p> 1. Are you committed to your weight loss journey? 2. Are you totally honest with yourself about how much you are eating and exercising? a. Log your food and activity on ww.fitday.com for 3 days 3. Are you using food inappropriately to deal with emotional issues? a. Have you identified what the emotions are that drive your eating? b. Can you think of more appropriate ways to deal with those emotions? c. Are you willing to seek help from a qualified counselor? 4. Are you attending and participating in support group meetings? 5. Have you drummed up some support from your family and friends? 6. Have you dealt with saboteurs realistically? 7. Do you have realistic expectations about the weight loss journey? 8. Are you still obsessing about food, weight, dieting, eating? a. Obsessive – compulsive thoughts (1) Obsess about something else b. Perfectionism (1) All or none, black and white thinking c. Patience with the pace of healthy weight loss 9. Are you acknowledging your successes with non-food rewards? 10. Have you learned how to take a compliment? 11. Are you giving up diet mentality? a. Stop weighing yourself several times a day or every day b. Stop dieting c. Stop depriving yourself d. Stop defining food as “good” and “bad” e. Stop rewarding and punishing yourself with food 12. How do you feel about all the changes taking place? E. You may need a band adjustment<o:p></o:p> 1. You feel like you are making healthy food choices in appropriate portion sizes but getting hungry between meals? 2. You can still eat white bread, fibrous vegetables and large portions. 3. You are having to struggle to lose 4. You are gaining weight in spite of eating right, exercising and having a good mind set. F. You may need your band loosened<o:p></o:p> 1. There are times when you can’t get fluids down 2. You are vomiting too much a. How much is too much? 3. Do you have frequent reflux or heartburn at night? a. Do not lie flat or bend over soon after eating b. Do not eat late at night or just before bedtime c. Rinse your pouch with a glass or water an hour before bedtime d. Certain foods or drinks are more likely to cause reflux: (1) Rich, spicy, fatty and fried foods (2) Chocolate (3) Caffeine (4) Alcohol (5) Some fruits and vegetables a. <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:City><st1:place>Oranges</st1:place></st1:City>, lemons, tomatoes, peppers (6) Peppermint a. Baking soda toothpaste (7) Carbonated drinks e. Eat slowly and do not eat big meals f. If you smoke, quit smoking g. Reduce stress h. Exercise promotes digestion i. Raise the head of your bed j. Wear loose fitting clothing around your waist k. Stress increases reflux l. Take estrogen containing medications in the morning m. Avoid aspirin, Aleve and ibuprofen at bedtime (1) Tylenol is OK n. Take an antacid (Pepcid complete) before retiring o. Try other over-the-counter heartburn medications p. See your health care provider 4. See your health care provider immediately (or call 911) if a. You have a squeezing, tightness or heaviness in your chest, especially if the discomfort spreads to your shoulder, arm or jaw or is accompanied by shortness of breath, sweating, irregular or fast heartbeat or nausea. These could be symptoms of a heart attack. b. If your symptoms are triggered by exercise. c. If your pain localizes to your right side, especially if you also have nausea or fever d. If you throw up vomit that looks like black sand or coffee grounds. Or if your stool is black, deep red or looks like it has tar in it. These are symptoms of bleeding and need immediate attention. (Note: Pepto-Bismol or other medications with bismuth will turn your stool black. Iron supplements can also make the stool tarry.) e. If your pain is severe <o:p> </o:p>

Indigestion and heartburn are caused by an increased or decreased secretion of acids and other digestive enzymes in the abdomen. Symtoms include burning, a feeling of fullness and gaseousness in the abdomen. Reflux esophagitis is the medical name for heartburn. The acid reflux is caused by the flow of gastric juices up the esophagus. Indigestion and heartburn are usually caused by overeating, obesity, chocolate, fried foods, carbonated beverages, alcohol, coffee, and cigarettes. Eliminating these causes is the first step in preventing occurrences of indigestion. Eat small meals, eat slowly, limit intake of fluid during meals, avoid spicy foods, eat whole-grain carbohydrates such as bread, brown rice, and pasta, and avoid eating fruit with or after meals. The following remedies for indigestion can be found in health food stores. <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=center><SCRIPT type=text/javascript><!--google_ad_client = "pub-6167988213978292";google_ad_width = 180;google_ad_height = 90;google_ad_format = "180x90_0ads_al";google_ad_channel ="5878910303";google_color_border = "FFFFFF";google_color_bg = "FFFFFF";google_color_link = "339933";google_color_url = "000000";google_color_text = "000000";//--></SCRIPT><SCRIPT src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js" type=text/javascript></SCRIPT></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Peppermint in tea or tablet form contains menthol and has an antispasmodic effect on the digestive tract. It relieves gas and stomach cramps. Chamomile in tea or tablet form has antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory and gas-relieving effects. Slippery elm bark in tea or tablet form helps form a protective coating in the stomach. DGL (deglycyrrhizinated licorice) is an anti-ulcer agent. Ginger in tea or tablet form relieves gas and reduces bloating and pain. Aloe vera gel helps soothe the stomach. Activated charcoal tablets or capsules are useful for gas pain. Charcoal absorbs medications and should not be taken within two hours of taking any medicine. To relieve pressure at night, use blocks to raise the head of the bed frame at least 6 inches. This will lessen the pressure on the stomach and prevent stomach contents from moving into the esophagus. Wait a couple of hours after a meal before lying down. Sleep on the left side of the body, the stomach is lower when lying on the left side. Stress, obesity, and pressure on the stomach can cause indigestion. These causes can be eliminated by participating in regular exercise such as walking, bicycling, swimming, or yoga. Avoid strenuous exercise immediately after a meal. Aromatherapy can relieve an upset stomach. The following essential herbal oils can be used in an infusion or diluted with almond or olive oil (four drops of herbal oil with an ounce of almond or olive oil) and massaged onto the abdomen: Peppermint Marjoram Fennel Coriander Always consult a physician before proceeding with any remedy.

Hi Everyone, So....it's been 7 months for us. I've lost 20 pounds. I was very depressed for a while because I wholeheartedly expected to lose more and more quickly. As long as I keep losing, it will be ok. Maybe it's good that's its been so slow. IDK So, get this, the new dr put me on Adipex. I told her that I had taken Adipex for my entire adult life (I'm 56). But she prescribed it anyway. She told me to eat every 3 to 4 hours. And she told me that I wasn't getting enough protein. I know that's true. Most days I don't even get half of what I'm supposed to have. I know this, I've had enough protein shakes and eggs to last a lifetime. Why aren't there scientists out there figuring out a way to make a protein patch or a capsule. LOL I did get some JRobb protein powder to add to soups and yogurts. I haven't tried it yet. I'm wearing clothes I haven't worn in a long time --and that's nice. I still have 16 pounds to go to reach my goal. The surgeon made it sound like I would lose all I would lose in year one. In other words, he doesn't see patients losing in year two very often. This leaves me 5 months to try to lose the 16. I'd like to know if any of you guys heard the same thing. Can I really expect NOT to lose after a year? Or possibly even gain back? On an unrelated note -- I've been reading about alcohol. I'm trying to cut back on that too, hoping maybe that will help with the weight loss. I've lost some hair. The new dr is super nice and she explained why we lose hair --that's why I've got to figure out a way to get the proteins in. I'm very happy for all of you who have lost really big amounts of weight. That's got to be life-changing. Congratulations. Baby sister had gastric bypass in Tijuana in October and has lost nearly 80 pounds.

This is from earlier on in this thread. I occasionally post things that I find. Here goes: ‘How to Lose 22lbs or 10kgs in 28 Days Without Starving or Training Like an Olympic Athlete!' By Stephen Smith BSc If you seriously want to lose 22lbs or 10 kilograms in 28 days then you must perform all of the principles exactly as recommended. Unlike the recommendations in my book, ‘Look good, feel great!', where you can pick the principles you want to use and ignore the rest and where you can even modify the principles to suit your lifestyle, these principles must be followed exactly as they are outlined. If you want extraordinary results, then you must be willing to put in an extraordinary effort! I realise that some people may be thinking, ‘But it is impossible to lose 10 kilograms of fat in a month!' I agree- it is! However, the truth is, it is impossible to only lose fat on any type of weight-loss program. You will always lose a combination of fat, Water, stored carbohydrate and some muscle. Furthermore, most people who want to lose 10 kilograms in the first place are generally retaining excess Fluid anyway, so a system that helps get rid of the excess fluid is certainly going to accelerate their results. Perform 30-60 minutes of aerobic exercise morning and night. Yes, you read that correctly, morning and night- 2 sessions a day… every day! No excuses. We're all busy, we all feel tired some mornings, but if you're serious about getting amazing results, then you must be willing to do everything necessary. When we talk about aerobic exercise, we're talking about exercise! Not walking around the shops, doing the gardening or doing housework. It must be exercise, which means your breathing rate increases, your face goes red, you sweat, you get tired- simple! Some examples of aerobic exercise include: walking (pounding the pavement at a brisk pace- not dawdling), cycling (stationary bike is ideal), swimming, rowing, stepper, cross-trainer, aerobic classes, boxing, etc. Use ‘thermogenics'. There are several very effective thermogenic supplementson the market that can accelerate your progress towards your goal. Those containing caffeine, green tea extracts and an extract from a plant called coleus forskohlii are the most effective. They will boost your metabolismand promote the release of fat from the fat stores. ‘Scorch' by MAN Sports is a good example. It contains a combination of 7 powerful herbal ingredients specifically designed to boost your metabolism, burn body fat and increase your energy. Unfortunately though, thermogenics are not ‘magic pills'. You can't expect to take a couple of thermogenic capsules and then go home and eat pizza and drink alcohol and expect to get results. Thermogenics only work when their use is combined with a good nutrition and exercise program. Take 1-2 capsules twice a day; once prior to your morning exercise session and once with your lunch. Don't take them later than 4:00pm in the afternoon because they may keep you awake at night. Before using thermogenics, see your doctor first and obtain their approval. Do not eat anything for 30 minutes after the completion of any exercise. As a result of using the thermogenics combined with the exercise, your metabolism will remain elevated for some time after the exercise session is finished. This means your body will burn fuel at a faster rate than normal. Any exercise causes the body to use carbohydrate (muscle glycogen and blood glucose) as a fuel source. This means that after the exercise is completed the carbohydrate stores in the body are low and the body will be forced to use fat as its fuel. If a meal is eaten immediately after the completion of the exercise session, the blood glucose level will rise, inducing the secretion of insulin from the pancreas. One of the effects of insulin is to stop fat burning in the body. Therefore, wait 30 minutes (but no longer because cortisol will rise) before having your next meal. Perform a weight training workout 2-4 times a week. Lifting weights is the most under-estimated way to lose fat fast! Now, before you start saying, ‘But I don't want to get big muscles!' or ‘I don't want to look like a man!', consider the following. The main purpose of lifting weights when your primary goal is to lose body fat is to preserve the muscle massyou already have. You see, muscle is the ‘engine' within which the fat, or ‘fuel' is burnt and maintaining or even increasing your muscle mass slightly will help ensure your body fat is burnt off efficiently. If you don't lift weights, your body will quite happily lose both fat and muscle as you drop the kilos. Lifting weights forces your body to maintain your muscle mass, therefore keeping your metabolism elevated and turning your body into 24-hour-a-day fat-burning machine! Incidentally, it only takes two 30 minute sessions a week to obtain the muscle preserving benefits of lifting weights. Have 5-6 small meals a day. One of the most common strategies people use to lose weight is to skip meals. Whilst reducing food intake is certainly an effective way to lose weight, having fewer meals is not the way to go. Many overweight people say, ‘I don't know why I'm overweight, I only eat once or twice a day!' Unfortunately, this is exactly why they are overweight. Having a mild calorie restriction is effective because if you consume less calories than you burn each day you will lose weight- simple! However, skipping meals forces the body to invoke its ‘Starvation Mechanism' because it thinks it is entering a famine. As a result, the body slows the metabolism to preserve energy. It also increases cortisol output and cortisol is the most powerful catabolic hormone in the body, which means it goes around the body breaking down lean tissue, particularly muscle. A loss of muscle slows the metabolism even further. Skipping meals also results in an increase in appetite, which forces you to eat larger amounts of food when you do eat. In addition to all these factors, the body also increases the activity of fat-storing enzymes, lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and fatty acid synthase (FAS), so when you do eat the food gets stored as fat. All of this results from simply skipping meals! By having a small meal every 2-3 hours throughout the day, your metabolism stays elevated and your body will happily burn fat all day long. Unfortunately though, most people are conditioned to having large meals and they automatically assume they will put on weight if they have 5 or 6 meals a day. The fact is, the ideal portion sizes for most people are actually quite small and in order to lose weight fast it is essential that you never feel full from a meal but you do feel satisfied. Also, most people find it difficult to have a meal every 2-3 hours throughout the day because they are so busy with work and/ or family commitments. Here are some suggestions to ensure you get your 5 or 6 meals a day. • Plan and prepare your meals the night before • Use Meal Replacements (protein shakes or bars) • Select foods that are quick and easy to prepare and consume Ensure each meal contains Protein. Protein is a component of all cells and makes up over half the dry weight of the human body. Furthermore, the human body is a dynamic structure, which means it is constantly building up and breaking down tissue. Just imagine a bath full of water. At one end of the bath the plug is pulled out and at the other end the tap is turned on full. The water level in the bath doesn't change but there are ‘new' water molecules entering the bath and ‘old' water molecules leaving the bath all the time. The human body is exactly the same. If the body breaks down more tissue than it builds up, then it is said to be in a catabolic state. This results in the metabolism slowing down due to the loss of muscle tissue. Having a portion of high-quality protein every few hours throughout the day provides the body with a constant supply of amino acids- the building blocks of the body. This prevents the catabolic state, promotes an anabolic state (tissue building) and therefore keeps the metabolism ‘fired-up'. If only carbohydrate or fat is consumed for a meal, for example a piece of fruit (carbohydrate) for the mid-morning meal, then the body will still enter a catabolic state because it doesn't have the building blocks (amino acids) to re-build body tissues. Protein, as its name suggests, is of primary importance. Reduce your intake of high-density carbohydrates. Most high-density carbohydrates like bread, Pasta, rice and cereals cause a rapid rise in blood glucose. This invokes the release of insulin from the pancreas, which in turn stores the glucose. The body stores glucose in the muscles and liver as glycogen and once these sites are full, the remaining glucose gets stored as body fat. Not only this, but insulin also stops the body from mobilising and utilising fat for fuel (burning fat). So if you want to maximise fat loss, you need to keep insulin to a minimum and the best way to do this is by reducing your intake of starchy carbohydrates without cutting them out altogether. Cutting them out totally is a philosophy of many low-carb diets on the market. However, these are very hard to sustain long-term and may lead to nutrient deficiencies. Each day, have a small amount (1-2 serves) of high density carbohydrates (bread, pasta, rice, cereals); a moderate amount (2-3 serves) of medium density carbohydrates (starchy vegetables and fruits); and a large amount (5-6 serves) of low density carbohydrates (fibrous vegetables). [For a complete list of carbohydrates, see pages 136-138 of the book, ‘ Look good, feel great! ] Do not have a Treat Day. Since you are expecting an extraordinary result, it is essential that you put in an extraordinary effort. Accordingly, for the next 28 days you must follow the plan exactly as it is outlined without deviating. This means you can't allow yourself to indulge in any ‘forbidden foods'. This also means avoiding alcohol for the entire 28-day period. I know this may be hard for some people but let's face it, it is only for 28 days! By committing to the plan and disciplining yourself to see it through, you are ensuring that the results will follow. Plus, the disciplines you create to help you achieve your physical goal will have a ‘carry-over benefit' to other areas of your life as well. I wish you the greatest success in achieving outstanding results!

Ask me tomorrow! I am going to an engagement party tonight! Not sure if I want to try alcohol in big amounts but I will have one.

I second Laura on these answers. Hot sauce OK but try it slowly. Straws ok, but try it slowly, some have trouble, I don't. Alcohol in small amounts ok, but watch the calories and wait a good long time after surgery or ask your dr. Carbonation I personally can't do anymore. Makes me ill after surgery. Search the threads on carbonation for more opinions. It does mess with the sleeve, but to what extent, who knows. It is generally considered a nono. Caffeine is another question you will have before long.

I am a psychiatric nurse practitioner and prescribe these meds to people daily. Although some people do gain weight on citalopram most do not. Escitalopram (Lexapro) is the newer "cleaner" version of citalopram (Celexa) and I see even fewer people gain weight on it. When they do research on these meds they have to document EVERY possible side effect. I believe that much of this is people that are very depressed lose weight and when they begin to take these meds they "gain" weight but really are just getting back to a normal weight. Brintellix is a good medication but is a newer one and much more expensive (and less well covered by insurances than citalopram). Also it work on serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine, where citalopram works only on serotonin that is more implicated in anxiety (where the others are more implicated in depression and anxiety combined). The psych meds that are really bad for weight gain are the atypical anti-psychotics like Zyprexa, Seroquel, Risperidal, etc. These can be used for psychotic conditions and, more commonly, bipolar disorder. But not everyone gains weight on them. Anxiety meds that are worse for weight gain - paxil, remeron, sometimes prozac. In my opinion if you have uncontrolled anxiety you are more likely to "self -medicate" to feel better. That may be with food, alcohol, marijuana, other drugs (prescription or illicit), gambling, etc. Good luck!

I have never seen bone broth with medicinal in front of it. I opened this thread expecting to read about the wonders of alcohol infused bone broth, only to learn we are just talking about normal bone broth

Yep Jane, I'll take 'em!! LOL Let me know how much---and I'll send a check your way---I am so excited, TY TY TY!!! This handcream she sent me did such wonders with my cuticles! The paper and all the files, along with the sanitizer, and constant hand washing at work was killing my hands. It was like night and day the first time using it! Heather, you and Laura are talking about sizing in baby clothes---it is terrible! A couple of weeks ago, we were going to a family thing, and Kinsey was wearing a dress, so I told her to go in to "her" drawer at my house and get a pair of shorts--pink ones--to put on under her dress. I told her then she could swing and play without showing her panties. So off she goes and she comes in and Manda says "lemmee see" so she pulls up her dress, and Manda frowns and asks where she got those, she hadn't seen them. Kinsey said they were in the bottom drawer. Manda looks at them, her eyes widen, she pulls her over and looks at the tag--she is WEARING them quite nicely--fitted, but not tight...and they are Newborn 5-7 pounds!!! They were from an outfit she had when she was a baby!!! She is 4 1/2 YEARS old!!! And about 22 pounds heavier than the recommended 5-7 pounds!!! So, look at it, and guess, because their sizing is ridiculous!!! Terry----believe me,the 20 odd pounds has come off slowly!!! Since I finally got off the steroids. I wish it was a fast slide back down, but it has not been! And even with it going, I am flabby beyond belief, so am going to HAVE to get with the program, or I will never get back to my other clothes, even if the scale says the old #. Sucky but true. Suzanne I am so sorry you are going through this with your family. I know it is so hard, addiction is such a horrible thing. My brother was a raging alcoholic for years, and we all walked on eggshells, not trying to be enabling, but we were all afraid of losing him, and being the one that said the crappy thing to him before he did something that cost him his life. Sounds extreme, but he had come so close to dying in the accident years before, it was like we had that thought in our minds at all times. And we just wanted to be sure if something happen, we were not going to regret our words forever. I know why your nephew is with you, I just forgot who and why else is living with you and DH. I hope DH "gets it" and figures out how to walk away and take a breather. I understand where he is at----his turf is invaded in a big way and his wife is stressed----he wants it to be better, but is only making matters worse.....just like a man isn't it!!! LOL TracyKS---like the new haircut!!! New start! I would keep the letter, making sure his family sees it, so they might be watching in case his anger is now turned to someone else, and can be prepared. Tracy---I had a little girl in the office who reminded me so much of the pictures of Macy---I was expecting her to talk with a Tracy like accent, and was totally disappointed when she didn't! Hey everyone else---I miss ya! Judy, Michelle, Pamela, Jenn, Haydee.......HUGS!

Suzie - I leave tomorrow for CO. Has he ever been in treatment? If not, I'd suggest finding a center for him if at all possible, or at the very least an "intensive outpatient" program. 90 meetings in 90 days is good, but eventually he needs a sponsor and should be actively working the steps to maximize his chance of success. Here's a link to Narcotics Anonymous pamphlets you can print out: Recovery Literature in English (US) As a family member there is only so much you can do. Your job is to set up boundaries (rules) and consequences and enforce them -- not an easy job. His recovery is his job and he has to want it more than anything. Hopefully his attendance at meetings will inspire him to want "what they have" which is SERENITY. A sponsor will help him in a way nobody else can and that's why they are so very important. Your best source for help, support and information is your local chapter of AA or NA. If he is a narcotics addict (rather than alcohol), NA is a much better choice for him. The NA office in Kansas City is 800.561.2250 -- call them and speak to someone about support for yourself and your husband. They will help you to help him. I promise.

I only had a 4 day pre op because I had been traveling and my doc said he'd do it just after I got back- probably because I was a lower bmi. He said my liver wasn't fatty at all when he went it which totally surprised me- my gi had said a year before that my liver looked like an alcoholics liver even though I barely drink. I lost 6 pounds in those 4 days. Mich W Hw 223, SW 217 CW 199 GW 135

Well I think we all drink a pretty good amount hell we can't eat much might as well ...I just started drinking again I went for a few yrs with out a drop alcohol poisoning will do that to ya..

Hi everyone. I went for my monthly visit yesterday to my surgeon and I lost another 6.5 lbs. in 3 weeks. I went away with my honey to Disney for 1 week, boy was it HOT there. I did have some episodes where I just thought I could handle a certain food or ate too fast and got sick. This is a daily commitment. The band does NOT go on vacation. I thought that maybe I was ready for a fill and he said, "NO!" We had a long discussion and he feels I am doing great without pushing it and going too far. He does not want to see me develop any problems from being too tight. I agree. I have 3.75 cc in a 10 cc band. I wonder If the 3.75 cc is still there?? I am still not having any soda. I can not eat bread or pasta. I try to make good healthy choices everyday and it is not always easy. Now I am really starting to see the loss and it feels great. It is wonderful to have to go to Walmart and buy a 2x underwear and throw out the 3x. THEY ARE TOO BIG !! I am most proud of the fact that I went away on vacation and still lost weight. I was aware and made good choices and limited my alcohol and did it. I was so worried and did NOT want to come back heavier. Today is a new day. I feel blessed !!! Have a great day to everyone who is reading this..... :thumbup:

My doctor prescribed me ambien. I slept all night last night it was heavenly. Oh thank heavens. I am a drug and alcohol counselor, in an inpatient facility and am a single mother of 2. I need sleep to function or I would go clinically insane. Lol.

I was just thinking about this! I went out last night and had a little too much to drink. To add to my hungover headache, I decided to weigh. Bad idea. I gained 2 pounds from last night. No more alcohol for me for a while.

U guys r crackin me up!! Lol I also quit soda back in May. It's actually not bad!! Broke down once or twice since then. Pretty proud if myself. But I too am eating as much as I can lol. Making dates with friends for one last hoorah lol. I think the one thing I will really really miss is alcohol!!!!!!!!

My diet and calories – stages + what does a typical day look like after a year? My post-op plan was pretty standard: 1 week of fluids 1 week of puréed 1 week of soft solids and then gradually into solids. It was easy, but I had reached out for help prior to surgery and had family take care of me. I could’ve done it on my own, but I do recommend letting all pride go and simply take as much time off work as you can, ask for all and any help you can from the people around you. You have no idea how willing people are to help. That first month is so crucial to get off to a great start – it’s a long journey – and we deserve it. I had alcohol less than a month after surgery (for NYE) and it was fine. It was OK’ed with my surgeon’s team. I understand this is different for different cultures, but alcohol is a major part of life where I live, and I am done doing unsustainable things. So I had to practice flexible control right off the bat. It works well for me. For me, tracking calories and protein has been crucial I was on: 1400 cals/day for 6 months, then 1800 cals a day for 3 months and then the bariatric team asked me to stop losing and find my balance. Since then, I’ve lost 7-8 lbs as I’m finding my equilibrium. I stopped tracking on weekends, and I still track on weekdays. It’s good to keep that sense of what 2000-2200 calories look like, but it’s also a more long-term sustainable solution for me to not sit at a restaurant and think about whether I go 50 over or under on a Friday. This gets into the mental game, and I’ll cover that below. A typical day now looks like this: Breakfast Protein Oatmeal (around 200 cals) Lunch Meat + mixed salad + a little dressing at work. Small plate. Early afternoon A protein snack, like Quest Protein Chips. Late afternoon Usually some fruit, a slice of protein bread with low-fat cheese. Dinner I’ve grown fond of Thai curries with chicken + cauliflower rice. I truly have no desire for, say, burgers and pizza – it’s too heavy for my system. I repeat: it’s not that I can’t have it, I just don’t really want to. New times indeed. Evening snack(s) I tend to leave 400-600 calories for after dinner (which is easier on 2200 calories, mind you). I unfortunately work a bunch, and this has been the problem in the past – working and snacking all night long. I spend those calories on a smoothie with protein and fruit, and usually a bariatric-friendly treat like sugar-free chocolate, popsicles, or something like that. This keeps the habit of stuffing myself with empty calories somewhat at bay, while also not setting me up for failure by pretending I can go from 7pm to bedtime at 1am without eating. I can’t, so I don’t.

Those damned grocery store displays is right. We are surrounded by temptation, damned commercials, damned ads in magazines. But Tricia is right, the first line of defence is keeping a 'clean' house. I have 3 young kids, 11, 8 adn 6. I often feel as though I have to have 'something' in the house, 'for them' But often I am eating more than each of them. So I am starving my kids off sugar. That can only be a good thing, or at least training them that treats are for weekends. But certainly I feel your pain. I am all for throwing them in the garbage. I had to do that with much of the crap candy from Halloween that my kids had. I didnt' even want them to eat it. Good luck with this, it is a very difficult thing to do. hugs here is a good article I read on Canada.com Michelle Lang, CanWest News Service; Calgary Herald Published: Wednesday, May 10, 2006 KANANASKIS, Alta. - With an abundance of cheap, high-calorie food all around us, eating is replacing cigarettes and alcohol as the new "drug of choice,'' says a University of Calgary scientist. At an Alberta obesity conference on Tuesday, Jaideep Bains argued food may have more addictive properties than many people realize, with both eating and drugs activating the same regions of the brain. Back to Body & Health A molecule called orexin, for instance, is critical to stimulating appetite and also makes the brain more sensitive to the effects of cocaine, noted the neuroscientist and assistant professor at the university. "It's not drugs and alcohol that are the drug of choice these days it's food,'' Bains said. "Feeding behaviours are not dissimilar to addictive behaviours.'' The Alberta Obesity Summit is a two-day conference bringing together scientists from across North America to discuss their research into the growing problem of bulging waistlines. Bains also told the conference that stress appears linked to eating and addiction, triggering both behaviours, particularly binge eating and relapses in recovering substance abusers. He noted stressed-out university students, for example, may "pig out'' during exams. "Stress could make cravings (for food and drugs) more profound,'' he said. "There's also some thinking it could relieve stress. That it's a coping mechanism.'' Another presenter at the conference said it's never too early to start tackling weight problems, arguing a predisposition to obesity could even begin in the womb. Rhonda Bell, a human nutritionist at the University of Alberta, noted a Dutch study of pregnant women who were malnourished when their country was occupied during the Second World War had children with increased obesity rates. Bell's own research in animals also suggests early eating habits have a profound impact on weight gain later in life. In one study, Bell introduced fructose, a type of sugar, into the diets of rats between seven- and 12-days old when they would normally be feeding on milk from their mothers. The rats grew up to be 20 per cent heavier at 12 weeks old than rats who consumed a normal diet in the first weeks of life. Her research also found rats on high carbohydrate diets passed their weight problems onto their offspring. ``We look at kids and say `they can eat anything. They're so resilient.' But that isn't always true,'' she said. University of Calgary scientist Keith Sharkey said research presented at the conference suggests obesity is a disorder of the brain that's also strongly influenced by early life experiences. He said more research needs to be done to understand obesity so scientists can advise policymakers on how best to intervene in the problem. "We're not in any doubt as to what we have to do,'' said Sharkey, who helped organize the conference. "We're in doubt as to the best way to solve it.'' © CanWest News Service 2006 Oh ya, and love yourself enough. <!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

My mom says that it is so hard to give up on your child. Sometimes it just breaks my heart to watch her try to help my brother. He doesn't want her help because he isn't ready to stop yet. He may never be. Booze has cost him everthing, two marriages, one son, numerous jobs, his health, his self respect, everything. Donna is so right, it is not your fault. It is also so sad but true that you cannot save an alcoholic---they have to save themselves.

hey ladies, long time no talk. i just posted this on another thread but figured it was a good "catch-up"... I've been having a pretty rough month. I moved, am still looking for a job, my car/ipod/sunglasses were stolen, and my computer died. In the past five weeks, I've exercised maybe twice or three times. I started eating whatever I wanted for every meal, including lots of sushi (rice), burgers, potatoes, pizza, fried foods, chips, chocolate, fast food, whatever I wanted. My restriction isn't at the level where it can stop me, and I can eat what I would call normal sized portions (i.e. equal to someone of normal weight who isn't banded - not what i ate pre-band). I also have been in party mode and drinking 5 or so nights per week (which can be anywhere from 200-500 calories per night). Not the ideal bandster, I have to say... So my lowest weight pre-craziness was 260. Weighed this morning, I'm at 263. In a month of doing all sorts of craziness, I have gained maybe 3 lbs (now I say maybe because my weight does fluctuate a lot, and 4 days ago I was at 260 still). So I'm ready to jump-start my weight loss again. I've committed to at least a ten-day run of no drinking alcohol or high-calorie liquids, and no eating anything that I don't cook in my own kitchen or that's processed. But still... 1+ month of no motivation to lose weight and bad choices... And I'm still within a 3-lb. range (normally my "hey wake up!" point is 5 lbs, due to fluctuation). so that's where i am now. day 2! woohoo