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I had salad for dinner, just plain ol' spring mix with soy bacon bits & some shredded cheese. I was going to make me a gardenburger salad - like a cheeseburger salad but veggie - except I at the rest of that btofunso already had my protein servings! So that and then salad a bit before 6, I had just had an iced soy latte so my cals are right over 1,000 today, and I have only walked 7 miles so I should be good! I was whining about gaining 2 or 3 lbs overnight to my son, he is in pharmacy tech schhol and he says that my liver can easily gain 3 lbs. in 1 day if I am used to no carbs, no alcohol and then I go out & party with a bunch of carbs & sweet drinks, like yesterday's luau (he was with me) and as soon as I shrink my liver back down the weight will be gone too! No carbs no alchohol, I was haing those ultra lights (poured over ice to get rid of carbonation of course) they only have like 74 calories and 2 carbs, but aparrently since they do still have alcohol in them they still swell the liver. Live and learn! Straight (diet) cranberry juice for me from now on

So I went into the preop diet feeling REAL confident like I wasnt going to have any problems sticking to the diet...But as soon as I tasted the protien drink, I wanted to DIE! drinkin it for lunch made me just want to starve for the rest of the 2 weeks...it tasted so bad cuz I used the whole protein pack n mixed it with water, it was real creamy and disgusting! I couldnt wait 2 have dinner lol...for the first 3 days I cheated :frown: I found myself eating rice. My mom hasnt been cookin rice latley but for some odd reason she cooked a big pot of rice 1 day and then the next day she made another type of rice and then the next day the same thing! And I knew I had my own type of meals but I couldnt control myself I didnt kno wut was happening. But I knew if I didnt follow my diet I would b puttin myself at risk. So I decided to remain strong and not be tempted to eat. I changed the way I made the drink, instead of mixing the whole pouch I just add two spoons of it and mix it with a lil bit of fruit punch. When I wake up I walk a mile and then later on in the day I walk another mile. I drink the shakes for breakfast and lunch and sometimes in between I can have unsalted peanuts (for protein) or applesauce and drink alot of water. For dinner I have chicken with small salad with balsamic vinegar. I go 2 parties and I dont eat or drink alcohol. Im impressed with myself Im really trying and I pray I dont mess up for the next 5 days! Its gettin easier for me because my surgury is this friday and the more I think about it the more I want to do good. So Im guessin when your surgury date is near, its easier.

Well I want to hear what it takes - My DS & DIL need to go - but alas they gotta work - and I think my DIL would flake out - helll she won't walk up the stairs if she doesn't have too.. Laura - Hell even 3 yrs going to the peace corps - a card lunch or something !!! Bosses now a days can be so insensitive The issue on your niece as we all know there is nothing we can do til they want help themselves - I know watching my DIL eat last weekend - was sickening and to think I ate some what like her prior to surgery... She eats way more carbs than I ever had and eats alot more than I did - she is most likely pushing 300 lbs.. Heck I have to bite my tongue alot of time when I watch other eat and how they eat - you know like a reformed alcoholic smoker - we go the other way :0) Glad Nelson is better today - $1000 for 4 teeth - you guys don't have dental insurance - That's a bit pricey... I agree that it's most likely from his beginnings - and no prenatal care or care for that matter after his birth... You are both lucky him for having you and you for having him. Meredith Ya I had fun til the time that I don't remember :0) ... But I'm a happy drunk :frown:) Won't be doing that for a long time - I'm not much of a drinker anymore... It interfers with my program :0) How much longer are you on a liquid diet?? and we all have our fat days - just take it one day at a time... Talk to the doc - I'm not diabrtic so I can't help at all on this.. Good Morning Gang Yesterday had to help my GF who threw her back out - today gotta get my own shopping and stuff done ... 1 week from thrusday I leave for Canada for my Lucky #7 trip... Gotta figure out what to take - just want to take a carry on.. I need to shower - will cbl later have a great sunday..

Thanks JoannMarie and Clempier. Maybe there is a study out there that shows a relationship. I found one article that mentioned it but I mislaid it. LOL. One of the strongest markers of ADHD in women is disorganization and an inability to stay on task. (Although some people actually overcompensate and become rigidly organized because otherwise the world is too overwhelming.) ADHD people tend to be more right-brained and creative. I've come up with very creative compensating techniques that have helped me survive. Food, especially chocolate, is one of them. Chocolate, of course, is full of caffeine. People with ADHD frequently self-medicate with caffeine. They are also more prone to self-medicate with alcohol, tobacco, and certain drugs. Chocolate is also known to produce seratonin in the brain and therefore is a natural antidepressant. Like we need one more excuse to eat it. But food and chocolate helped me survive. I think I should be grateful for them even though I now have to move past them.

Monday, July 6, 2009 Eating Disorders Eating disorders. Did you know that compulsive overeating is considered part of the spectrum of eating disorders? You think of Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa as eating disorders but compulsive overeating, sometimes followed by dieting, is part of the whole binge/purge syndrome. Did you know that the average girl now starts dieting at age 8? Did you know that those who very rigidly follow the healthiest diet they can find, eliminating all fat and chemicals and whatever else they are convinced is unhealthy end up with life-threatening symptoms from not getting enough nutrition? That this newly recognized disorder has been given its own name--Orthorexia? I've seen a lot of that in some of the OA meetings I've attended. Here is a website if you want more information: http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/ Here's part of their advice for preventing eating disorders: Listen to your body. Eat what you want, when you are truly hungry. Stop when you're full. And eat exactly what appeals to you. Do this instead of any diet, and you are unlikely to ever have a weight problem, let alone an eating disorder. Eat when you are truly hungry. Stop when you are full. I remember thinking I should be thinner as a teenager. It was easy to lose the weight. I was still able to eat a lot because I was very active. I still ate what I liked, which wasn't neccessarily good for me, I just ate less of it. I ate enough good stuff to still be very healthy. I got married at 19 and started gaining, but not much. Then I finished college while pregnant and each succeeding pregnancy brought bigger babies and more weight. Each time I dieted afterward. This was the start. And it just ballooned. Gain, lose, gain even more. Now my goal weight is a weight that I once thought was fat. How much of my eating disorder got started because of wanting to be pefect, physically? How much was genetic predisposition? How much was emotional issues related to living with undiagnosed, unrecognized ADHD? How much was co-dependancy issues from negating self and doing for everyone else? How much was a spiritual issue of not allowing myself to be fully loved by God? Don't know. Doesn't matter. I have an eating disorder. I am a compulsive over-eater. I am a food addict. I need to work on the physical side of the addiction hence the lap band surgery, following the food protocol and let's not forget to mention excercise. The psychological issues are things that I've been working on for a long time, learning to love myself the way I am including my ADHD for which I'd been shamed and shamed myself, and which always made me feel like a square peg in a round hole. And then there's my co-dependancy issues (think care-taking without taking care of self) which most Christian girls are well-trained in, and which having been married to an alcoholic were especially brought out in me. There are the social issues that impact body image--I held off on this surgery to make sure I wasn't doing it to look good (though there's nothing wrong with that), but because I genuinely craved better health. And there are the spiritual issues. I think contentment, mindfulness, gratitude, acceptance, and serenity are big spiritual issues. I have to learn to be content whether in want (need) or in plenty. No matter what the circumstance. And I can only be content in all circumstances through Christ who strengthens me. This blog is getting long. I'm not done exploring these topics, not by a long shot. But now I need to take care of myself and go to bed.

Monday, July 6, 2009 Eating Disorders Eating disorders. Did you know that compulsive overeating is considered part of the spectrum of eating disorders? You think of Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa as eating disorders but compulsive overeating, sometimes followed by dieting, is part of the whole binge/purge syndrome. Did you know that the average girl now starts dieting at age 8? Did you know that those who very rigidly follow the healthiest diet they can find, eliminating all fat and chemicals and whatever else they are convinced is unhealthy end up with life-threatening symptoms from not getting enough nutrition? That this newly recognized disorder has been given its own name--Orthorexia? I've seen a lot of that in some of the OA meetings I've attended. Here is a website if you want more information: http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/ Here's part of their advice for preventing eating disorders: Listen to your body. Eat what you want, when you are truly hungry. Stop when you're full. And eat exactly what appeals to you. Do this instead of any diet, and you are unlikely to ever have a weight problem, let alone an eating disorder. Eat when you are truly hungry. Stop when you are full. I remember thinking I should be thinner as a teenager. It was easy to lose the weight. I was still able to eat a lot because I was very active. I still ate what I liked, which wasn't neccessarily good for me, I just ate less of it. I ate enough good stuff to still be very healthy. I got married at 19 and started gaining, but not much. Then I finished college while pregnant and each succeeding pregnancy brought bigger babies and more weight. Each time I dieted afterward. This was the start. And it just ballooned. Gain, lose, gain even more. Now my goal weight is a weight that I once thought was fat. How much of my eating disorder got started because of wanting to be pefect, physically? How much was genetic predisposition? How much was emotional issues related to living with undiagnosed, unrecognized ADHD? How much was co-dependancy issues from negating self and doing for everyone else? How much was a spiritual issue of not allowing myself to be fully loved by God? Don't know. Doesn't matter. I have an eating disorder. I am a compulsive over-eater. I am a food addict. I need to work on the physical side of the addiction hence the lap band surgery, following the food protocol and let's not forget to mention excercise. The psychological issues are things that I've been working on for a long time, learning to love myself the way I am including my ADHD for which I'd been shamed and shamed myself, and which always made me feel like a square peg in a round hole. And then there's my co-dependancy issues (think care-taking without taking care of self) which most Christian girls are well-trained in, and which having been married to an alcoholic were especially brought out in me. There are the social issues that impact body image--I held off on this surgery to make sure I wasn't doing it to look good (though there's nothing wrong with that), but because I genuinely craved better health. And there are the spiritual issues. I think contentment, mindfulness, gratitude, acceptance, and serenity are big spiritual issues. I have to learn to be content whether in want (need) or in plenty. No matter what the circumstance. And I can only be content in all circumstances through Christ who strengthens me. This blog is getting long. I'm not done exploring these topics, not by a long shot. But now I need to take care of myself and go to bed.

I am Bob---I am an alcoholic with a strong desire to abuse pain pills....sobriety date of 08/03/08. Attending a 12 step program on a regular basis. My old motto if one is good three is better...NOW I am just doing the next right thing. Welcome to you to the boards! Sleeve date 07/11/09 weight today 255

Jul, I am so sorry for your story. It brought tears to my eyes about your brother! It sounds a lot like my situation. I have an older brother (11 years, by her first husband) and he was heavily into drugs and alcohol. I'm sure he still lights up every now and then, but he has managed to turn his life around. He left VA when he was 20 and she didn't follow him! I move to TX - where she says she'll NEVER live, and she followed me! I'm sure she would again, if I moved away. I can say that *most of the time* my mom isn't really mean for the sake of being mean. She used to be, but she's calmed down a lot. I think she just wants to be taken care of, but doesn't really know how to interact with people. Although, she has told me before that she should never have had me. She was older and she and my dad got along great until I was born. Then, he still wanted to go out and she had to stay home. I think she feels she sacrificed for me, now it's my turn to reciprocate. I don't feel that way - now, but I did for a long time. The other day she was stressed over my aunt's visit and she got so mad at one of my dogs she through something at her. I gathered up our stuff and left and my DD said, "I can't believe she threw something." I said, "oh, I believe it!" When I was a kid, she'd grab anything that was near her and throw at me. Shoes, books, a plant once! She had a temper! Now she's just kinda pathetic. Since I told her being bitchy to me wasn't acceptable, she's been much better. I think I just need to keep her behavior on a short leash and stay in control. When I start trying to be the daughter and put her in control is when things go to hell. She's not a fit parent - never was and never will be. Good luck with you staying strong. Do you feel you'll call them again, or are you done forever? If they contacted you, what would you do?

I dont know who you are but God does. He knows your struggle and pain and he loves you and wants a better life for you. You owe it to youself and your family and friends to be healthier you. It is hard, I know everyone that blogs on this thing knows. DONT GIVE UP. Just committ to one day at a time. get up in the morning and say "today, there will be no ice cream" and make a healthier choice, one day at a time. just like an alcoholic, all of us reach for food for our comfort, for pleasure, it has been like losing a true friend. I chose to make a change now before it is too late. obesity kills more people every year and its getting worse and worse. you dont have to be 125 pounds just tell yourself "one day at a time" Good luck and God bless.

Hi, I'm on Day 4 on the same diet. The first few days were awful. I experienced all the same things you did. It was awful! But today it seems like it's getting better. I told my friends that I've never gone through detox but it reminds me of what alcoholics and drug addicts go through when they are trying to get clean. Not as bad I'm sure but it is withdrawel. Anyway I hope that it is getting better for you too. They told me that I could have as much broth as I wanted. I have been heating it up in a coffee cup and having that with my "meals" and that seems to help a little.

Kacee, yes you can drink alcohol. The band doesn't change how your body absorbs or reacts to alcohol. HOWEVER, you do have to remember that liquids go straight through the bad (like through a funnel) and you can drink more than you should. By that I mean, more very empty calories. A shot of rum is 60 calories. Some of those mixers are sugar traps. You can quickly drink 1,000 calories if you don't exercise some restraint. So a night of fun in a bar can show up on the scale in a very negative manner. A note on the absorbtion thing....you can't eat as much food, so that means there is less of a "cushion" in your stomach so the alcohol does process more quickly than if you ate a "regular" meal. That's why bandsters tend to think that the band makes them more susceptible to the alcohol. I'm a parrothead (duh, the name says it all) and we have a reputation for knowing how to party. I've been to more than one parrothead event since being banded and, yes, I've had my drinks (I tend to drink single barrel rum, which would be an absolute sin if you mixed it with something). You can, and should have fun while limiting your alcohol consumption. I think an awful lot of people (overweight and not) use alcohol has a lubricant for easing off their social inhibitions. Losing weight should help you come out of your shell a little (shell, what shell???) and I find that I am so busy socializing that it doesn't matter if I have a glass of rum or a glass of Water in my hand.

You can have an occasional drink if you must but you will find the alcohol hits you harder than before you were banded. Just a word of caution; it is entirely possible to have the lap band and gain weight or not succeede with it. It will stop you with the quantity of food you give yourself (and you will not like how that feels!) but if you make poor choices, like ice cream, alcohol, milk shakes, puddings, etc. etc. the band cannot help you there. Those liquids go right through it and give you all the calories and none of the full feeling or nutrition at all. The weight loss is still something you will be doing for yourself, band or no band you will have to work it. The band gives you a bit of help, but the effort and the choices are all up to you.

Hi Keith. I appreciate all that you have to say. Believe it or not, the best thing that you had to say, that really re-opened my eyes, was the statement about how sumo wrestlers eat !! I laughed at first but realized that if I don't keep that in mind, there isn't any surgery in the world that will help me get and stay where I want to be health-wise. Also, I have to deal with this stress the same way an alcoholic would...day by day, or in my case minute by minute. I am just in a difficult situation now that is common to a lot of people. My parents health has deteriorated and I am the only family who lives in the area. Everyone expects me to do everything for my parents and it is driving me crazy. I have to do what is right for me but sometimes that hurts their feelings. Don't get me wrong. I am not some out of control person. I just gave in last night with that darned rice. It hurt my stomach so much that I got very scared. All is well now on that front today. I just hadn't ever experienced that sort of painful situation before. I like the feeling of good health and intend to keep pursuing it. Thanks again.

Of course carbohydrates aren't evil. They're one of the fundamental sources of energy available in food. We're just not equipped to withstand the rediculous amount that our culture (with no small help from industry lobbyists) believes we should injest. We're humans, not hummingbirds, and didn't develop eating sugar or cultivated foods: agriculture is only a couple thousand years old. The "gatherer" side of "hunter-gatherer" meant opportunistic berries and herbs, not corn and rice, and even hunter-gatherer was a later invention to replace nomadic scavenger. External carbohydrates are necessary? Even Karo syrup was lobbied as "healthy" for inclusion in every child's meal, and I'm sure some of you remember the Nutella-at-schools debacle of recent memory. Both are wonderfully dense sources of easy-to-metabolize carbohydrates. But perhaps that isn't what you had in mind. So while we're at it, let's distinguish between carbohydrates (the biochemical construct by which life on this planet stores energy, as well as the primary constituent of the cellulose that forms dietary Fiber, both of which are called out on the nutrition information label), and the food products in which we find them (vegetable matter, including among other things grains, starchy roots, and saps/juices), which happen to also contain other things which actually have some value (carrots and carotene, broccoli and broccolene.. err.. Vitamin C). Now most people don't understand Atkins or low-carb in general, which was developed for diabetics, and later refined for overweight patients. Such people often focus on the "zero carb == zero veggies" myth, never realizing that Atkins, and most other low carb diets, encourage (nigh require) a good sized salad each day, so long as non-fiber carbohydrate intake is generally only around 1/5 or less of the total calorie intake. The books are available for people to read, but people almost never bother, trusting instead in the rumor mill. I suggest borrowing copies of the various different diet manuals out there and reading them. I'm late for lunch and distracted, and I'm sure you'll thank me for deleting the brief chemistry lecture I'd started to type :smile2: But, if you understand (at least conceptually) the biochemistry involved, then it becomes fairly straightforward why many WLS patients are in fact told to switch to a low-carb lifestyles regardless of whether it's labelled "Atkins" or "South Beach" or "Zone" or "The Frobnoz Special" or simply "eat all your Protein first, then consider your vegetables" (and note the word "vegetables", not "carbs" was used): priorities. - We require sleep. 8-10 hours, no matter what your grandfather said about "four's plenty for me, so it's plenty for you". - We must consume a large quantity of Water *at minimum* to maintain healthy levels of hydration. This is the first thing, consumption-wise, that could kill us for any number of reasons. - That, in conjuction with the pouch-centric admonition against mixing food and water, limits how much time each day we can spend eating solid food. - We must get protein from food (at least, I know of no other available source). At least about 60-70g of it. We require this to maintain cellular structures among other things. - Pretty much everything else we can (as noted before) get from a non-food source if we have to. It is notable that many of us entered into this with at least some severe vitamin or mineral deficiency despite eating large quantities of varied, supposedly "healthy" foods. - Our ultimate priority: consume the existing fat on our bodies and, when done, don't store new fat. If you want the biochemistry involved, read the literature. It's fairly well documented by this point, and it is those metabolic pathways which low carb diets in particular to target. Now, if you want more "extreme" low-carb diets without the "Atkins" label, you can try variations of Paleo, where the qualification for vegetable matter is indeed what was available to our pre-agriculture era ancestors, that does get more exclusionary than most people have patience for. I have to admit, the food is quite good, if a bit repetitive compared to contemporary cuisine. But bison steak and roasted nuts is a good combination. Now, given that the band, and indeed all weight loss surgeries, give us a lot of seperate targets to meet: - water intake (required for life) - rate of solid food intake (mandated individually by the surgery itself) - protein intake (since this isn't easily supplemented) - nutritional profile (often made up by supplementation) - calorie reduction (otherwise what's the point) .. it seems foolish to pack in raw, non-fiber carbs, which is what starch is, when there are more nutrient- (and fiber-) rich food sources, often with fewer calories. You could do worse, of course -- adding sugar in its myriad forms when sugar supplies nothing but a chance for the body to use that source *immediately* (raising insulin levels sharply, eventually causing the storage of everything else from the food for a later use which never arrives). Don't get me wrong: I'm addicted to mashed potatoes, and have been known to put them on lefse. But I also have spent a couple years on various different types of diets, except for raw food and things in Oprah and the Star. I know how my body reacted, and I *know* my brain didn't need rice to run. It actually did run better after I cut most of that stuff out and stuck to meat and greens, and I didn't gain weight during that time, either. Now, I know that we would *love* to eat like a "normal person", but that presumes "normal people" eat properly. In the United States, "normal" is increasingly overweight. So, given the decades over which this has happenned (let's call it the past 4-5), and noting the rise in conjuction with the "OMG eat all rice no fat!" reaction that started in recent (and increasingly obese) history, and noting the variety of people who actually do respond well when they go contrary to what the anti-low-carb groups state, why again would I trust "normal people" and agriculturalists on this matter? They certainly didn't help me when I *was* at a healthy adult weight and, looking back, eating many fewer carbs, and probably as much protein and more fat and alcohol, than I was going into pre-op. [Note to self: Feline chemistry and human chemistry are at odds in a very particular and potentially fatal way with regard to weight loss. If a cat starts feeding off its fat stores at any significant pace, it will *cause* fatty liver disease. In a human, it would cure it. Don't let a cat get away with not eating for a couple days. There is cruel irony in having to force-feed a cat with more calories than I'm suppose to have to treat the same liver disease.]

i have had this same struggle since surgery. I talked to my dentist about this at my last check up and she recommended Breath RX mouthwash -- it's expensive but it is a non-alcohol based mouthwash (which dries out your mouth and promotes bad breath) -- here is info from the website: BreathRx Anti-Bacterial Mouth Rinse is alcohol free and sugar free. It contains Cetylpyridinium Chloride (CPC) and ZYTEX®, our secret weapon in the fight against bad breath. CPC's know anti-bacterial properties kill the bacteria that lead to bad breath odors, then ZYTEX neutralizes their resulting odors. -- it has really helped me.

I know how difficult it is to come to this type of decision since I have been through it myself. I don't claim to have any real words of wisdom, but I just wanted to share my story with you and hope it helps. I'm going to try to abreviate it, but I come from a highly disfunctional family so there is a lot to my story. The basic foundation is my father was an alcoholic, he was just down right mean. He was so mean, that when I was a little girl I thought he was the devil. My mother is one of these people who is very mean and cold, but presents herself to people like "poor me". She and my father used to fight, very violent fights. To the point where when I was little several times in the middle of the night I had to run to the neighbors so they could call the police, and the next day we would pick up my dad from jail .It became pretty routine. My brother was 10 years older than me, and my sister 5 yrs older. My dad and my brother used to fight constantly as well. Needless to say growing up I had much resentment pain and anger. Both my parents were mentally abusive. I don't know how many times I was told by my mother "If I had it to do over again I wouldn't have kids." My dad was always very insulting and he had an annoying way of saying something mean with a smirk on his face then when I'd get mad he'd be like "oh I'm just kidding don't be so sensitive." That was always my mom's favorite saying too " don't be so sensitive" Well that gives you an idea of what I endured growing up. It really didn't get any better when I became an adult either. To top it off, after I got married they started to treat my husband badly too. My mom really didn't like him, mostly because he wasn't a rich man, but also because he isn't the type to put up with much. I tried moving to another state for awhile, it still wasn't good enough for me. They still haunted me. Even thier messages on my anwering machine would get me upset. They aren't the type you can talk to, they do not listen at all. When my mom would call me it was all about her, she didn't want to hear anything about me, she always depended on me emotionally, but was never there for me. I wrote them a very long letter telling them all that bothered me. Broke it off for two years, then broke down and contacted them. It was slightly better for awhile, but they quickly went back to their old ways. I couldn't take it any longer, I wrote them another letter saying good bye, and why. It's been a little over a year now. I don't have anything to do with my sister, she became very involved with drugs, I tried to help her but couldn't. My brother commited suicide almost a year ago now. It's not easy, I always think of things like how weird it will be if I don't even know whether or not they've passed away. But they are just too harmful to me. I too as someone mentioned consider people toxic if their bad for me. In fact there is a book called Toxic Parents. It helped me quite a bit. Of course therapy has helped. I wish you the best, I know how painful this is. But even if you don't cut it off with your mom, at least cut off form her finacially ASAP. It sounds difficult since you live so close to her. I'm here if you want to discuss this. I'm open to any quetions as well. Take care

The bad breath comes from your body being in ketosis. I've never had the "bad" breath, but I had a sweet taste in my mouth all the time back when I lost a bunch of weight real fast on MediFast. Besides adding in some carbs to your diet to bring you back out of ketosis, the best thing I know to do is drink more Water. Being dehydrated seems to make it worse. And use alcohol-free mouthwash/breath treatments for the same reason. As for your hair, I've had that happen as well, no matter how much Biotin I took. My doc told me it's your body's natural reaction to stress, in this case what it perceives to be starvation. Your hair will grow back, but it might some time. But just to be on the safe side, have your doc run some tests. As I found out a little too late, hypothyroidism can cause hair loss as well! Best wishes to you!!

Just can't wait to get through this durn clear liquid stage..had some broth from a can of Progress beef and potato soup that I drained last night. it wasn't fat free and it was a little thicker than regular broth but I am having trouble stomaching those protein drinks and I felt the broth might have a little protein in it. It did fine and stopped the severe gurgling and nausea I had. I can't wait to have some tomato soup with milk..lol..that will feel good! I wonder if my incisions are ok enough to go to the beach this sat. My port site is really the only sore area and the incisions look good. The glue or sticky stuff on me is itching like the devil though. Did you have stitches..I can't tell? or is it glue? Wonder is alcohol will take off that glue? What do you usually eat in a day? I need to start getting some ideas of what I am going to eat once I can. I wanna make some meal plans up. Do you have any intollerances? Did it hurt when you got fills? did they numb you first? I know I am all questions..sorry. I know your a pro now so I thought I could ask you.

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.

Since surgery it has been pretty easy sticking to my diet plan until the 4th rolled around. We had a BBQ, and had friends over. This was the first party I have attended since surgery. I completely blew it, I ate crackers, chips, dips, not-lean burger w/o the bun, and even a damn hotdog w/the bun. I did manage to stay away from the alcohol though. I was pretty down on myself for going off the wagon, and still kind of beating myself up over it. I feel so guilty, and a little ashamed. I am back on track now though, and plan to stay on track. I just wonder if everytime an event rolls around I am going to fall off again, and that is a bit discourging. On a good note, I am allowed 4oz of food now instead of 2. I am also allowed to start adding more solid foods, salad, and even fruit on occassion. Last night was the first time I tried 4oz of food, and it seemed like so much food too me. I still have no restriction, so I am still getting hungry between, meals. But it is so nice to go up to that 4oz. I am just worried I will start gaining weight now. I am having a hard time getting my 64oz of water in a day too. I come close like maybe 50-60oz. Its hard to just sip all day. I tend to gulp, and learning to sip is a real challange.

Since surgery it has been pretty easy sticking to my diet plan until the 4th rolled around. We had a BBQ, and had friends over. This was the first party I have attended since surgery. I completely blew it, I ate crackers, chips, dips, not-lean burger w/o the bun, and even a damn hotdog w/the bun. I did manage to stay away from the alcohol though. I was pretty down on myself for going off the wagon, and still kind of beating myself up over it. I feel so guilty, and a little ashamed. I am back on track now though, and plan to stay on track. I just wonder if everytime an event rolls around I am going to fall off again, and that is a bit discourging. On a good note, I am allowed 4oz of food now instead of 2. I am also allowed to start adding more solid foods, salad, and even fruit on occassion. Last night was the first time I tried 4oz of food, and it seemed like so much food too me. I still have no restriction, so I am still getting hungry between, meals. But it is so nice to go up to that 4oz. I am just worried I will start gaining weight now. I am having a hard time getting my 64oz of water in a day too. I come close like maybe 50-60oz. Its hard to just sip all day. I tend to gulp, and learning to sip is a real challange.

I would say drinking massive quantities of alcohol, but I think that's frowned upon before an interview. :tongue_smilie: Actually it's a tad better than it felt. The shower helped with the blistered areas, though makeup just enhances the fact that there's an issue going on -- so I tried to go really light with just a tinted moisturizer. My face looks like I either ran 10 miles or have high blood pressure -- except where my bangs mercifully kept the upper part of my forehead as white as snow. It looks ridiculous, but I just keep my bangs down. lol

Hello my fellow Marchies!! (Crickets chirping...) Where is everybody?!?!?!? Oh well guess everyone is busy this holiday weekend... Hope everyones 4th was a fun one... So how are we all doing this month... Hows the progress?? It seems like i am officially stuck at my current weight without being able to crack the 168/169lb marker... I know my fill level is good and i have optimal restriction, i guess my problem is my eating habits haven't been following the good old bandster rules... and the exercise needs to be kicked up another notch!!! I say we all vow to go back to those bandster rules this month and get the ball rolling again!!! Anyone with me?? Here are the good old rules as a nice reminder: Avoid drinking liquids during or immediately after meals as liquids tend to flush food through the stomach pouch. This prevents you from getting that prolonged feeling of satisfaction needed to help you eat less. As always, staying hydrated throughout the day is important, however. Drink at least six to eight cups of water per day, and make sure you consume them between meals. Chew your food thoroughly and eat small bites so that the food can easily fit through the opening to your stomach pouch. This will help you avoid the problem of food blocking the stomach outlet. Only eat when you are hungry and no more than three small meals a day, but you must make sure that these meals contain adequate nutrition. Remember, your stomach can only hold about one-quarter of a cup of food, or two ounces, at a time. Stop eating when your hunger is gone or when you feel comfortable. The general nutrition guide below can help you create good and healthy meals that contain adequate nutrients but low sugar and fat: Good Food Choices Fruits and vegetables One to two servings of fresh fruit daily Two to three servings of fresh vegetables daily [*]Breads and cereals One small portion of low-sugar cold or hot cereal Half to one slice of toasted whole wheat or rye bread each day. Note: Some patients have difficulty eating bread [*]Meat, fish, poultry, eggs One to two ounces of meat, fish, or poultry-or one egg each day. Remove all visible fat from the meat. Remove the skin from poultry. Prepare the meat in ways that need very little fat. Grilling, steaming, microwaving, or boiling are all good ways to do this. Note: Some patients have difficulty eating meat. [*]Dairy products Milk and yogurt are calories in liquid form. However, these types of food have calcium, which makes them an important part of a healthy daily diet, so choose a maximum of 2 cups of skimmed milk or low-fat yogurt and 1 ounce of cheese a day. [*]Fats Restrict the use of fat to 3 to 4 teaspoons of margarine, butter, or oil per day. You can have low-fat salad dressings and mayonnaise in moderation. [*]Drinks Drink as many calorie-free liquids per day as you wish (though not with meals). Suitable drinks are tea or coffee (black) with low-calorie sweetener, water, non-carbonated beverages containing few or no calories Some doctors have reported that carbonated beverages may contribute to enlargement of the small pouch and recommend they be avoided. Back to Top [*]Foods to Avoid Some foods deliver a concentrated supply of calories but little nutritional value. These foods should be avoided whenever possible. They include: syrups cakes jam chips pastries Alcoholic drinks should also be consumed in moderation: for example, one glass of wine per day. [*]Common Problem Foods Some foods have difficulty passing through the stomach opening created by the LAP-BAND® System and may cause blockage. These include: dry meat shrimp untoasted or doughy bread rice peanut butter fibrous vegetables like corn, asparagus, and celery nuts greasy or fried food membrane of citrus fruits I got everything directly off the lapband site... I figured we all may need a little jog in the memory once in a while... Oh and tdont forget the most important rule!!! PROTEIN PROTEIN PROTEIN ALWAYS FIRST!!! I'm pretty sure that is well drilled into our minds.... but i can honestly say i haven exactly been following that rule very well lately!!!