June 2006 Band Crew

[Poodles 0]

Well, I am still extremely frustrated. One day I can't eat anything, the next day I can eat. I don't understand it. For example: Yesterday, I drank a Protein Drink in the AM, tried to eat a meatball and broccoli (the same thing I had for lunch on Monday). I ate 1/4 meatball and bam was stuck. Could not eat anything... and I was hungry. Then for dinner tried tapalia fish and avacado. Got two bites in and was running to the sink. After all of that, I tried mashed potatoes and got 1/2 cup down with no problems.

Then this morning, grabbed a donut (to fit in with the other teachers) and picked at it... got it all down. For lunch they brought food in. I ate 1/2 a sandwich, 4 cheetos, and 3 Cookies. For dinner, I ate 1/2 cup of chili.

THIS IS CRAP. Junk goes down, CRAZY, STUPID BAND. I don't think I am overfilled... just screwed in general.

I know that I should not eat the junk, but what the heck do you do when you are hungry and nothing else goes down.

[barbara465 2]

Maybe we need to really journal our food to see if we can see a pattern. What was eaten the day before that might prevent us from eating the next day? I don't have any answers. Just lots of questions. I don't seem to have restriction in the sense that I can't eat in the mornings or I get a clear signal or a golf ball or ??? I do seem to get full and I just stop. Sometimes I just stop because I think I've had enough. I guess I thought I was going to get this clear indication - like a bell or something, that told me I was full. :huggie:

I have gotten in the habit of drinking Water to clean out the pouch before going to bed. Of course, that means I have to pee before morning, but I haven't had heartburn or anything like that. I'm also able to eat in the mornings if I want to. Not when I first get up, but within a hour or two. I've never eaten when I first get up so don't think that is band related.

I haven't tried a lot of food just because I'm too scared. I haven't tried bread, rice, or Pasta. I'm just not going there for now. It doesn't seem to hurt me. I also notice that I get a little nervous around others when I eat. I have to take it real slow and calm myself down. That is definitely stressful. I am trying not to put myself in those situations. However, I think you can get around it without anyone really noticing. I just decline the extra treats as I've already eaten or not hungry or no thanks. Carry a Protein drink or a container of yogurt when they order in and its not food I can eat. Everyone diets or has some peculiar food adversion, so no one thinks anything of it.

This is something we have to get used to for it is the rest of our lives. We need to find a way to adjust. I still think I can eat more than I should be able to, but do try to stop myself. If I got a fill it couldn't be very much as I really think I may be sitting very close to my sweet spot.

This is definitely a challenge for all of us. Let's look for the patterns and look for the triggers. Are we reheating foods and they are becoming dry? Are we lubing the meat for it to more easily go down? Are we cutting our food up into tiny pieces and chewing well? Are we under stress or eating fast when the golf ball appears? Let's start with these questions and see if there is a pattern.

As I said earlier this band is fickled. We just need to learn to live with it.

[Pinkylee 7]

Poodles--

Sounds like the junk food you are eating has a lot of fat--which may lubricate and thus goes down easier.

Try adding some olive oil to the fish and make sure it's as soft and juicy as your last candy bar!

I bought a mini cuisinart and have been blending my Protein. It was cheap--$35. Maybe you are causing slight injury every time you eat low fat protein.

What we do today to survive won't last. Next week, we'll have a different challenge. I thought I would find a system and be able to stick with it--too many variables to do that! Tension, a new fill, indigestion from a spicy meal, TOM, swelling--if my ankles are swollen from the heat, how about my tummy?

There are some absolutes for me--

1. Water and liquids all day

2. 1200 calories

3. Exercising and more activity in general (please don't get tired of me extolling Leslie sansone Walk Away the Pounds DVDs. Fit anyone's fitness level and I can do quite a bit of housework "high stepping" while I unload the dishwasher.

4. Veggies and fruit for snacks--steamed brocolli with Brummel and Brown fake butter--it was really good about 3:00 pm and my dogs loved the leftovers.

5. Healthy Snacks available--my husband gets cooikies in his lunch each day because I send an entire unopened bag to work with him and he has to decide how many he can eat. When he's out--I buy another bag and keep it closed--I'm a cookie monster!

I had a bit of over agressive fill--but it is manageable and I don't want to throw in the towel on this. I'm hoping to start losing again soon. I've seen 212. come up on my scale off and on for at least 3 weeks. Penni has an old "commitment" thread that has been re-activated--maybe you could find some help there.

I have faith in you Poodles. You have spunk--gut this out and keep scratching till you find some answers. They are there.

[barbara465 2]

Thanks for the good tips. I have a question about brocolli. I eat only the flower portions and only if tender. I have read on here that some get stuck and a couple have had slippage due to brocolli getting stuck. I chew and chew, but now it scares me. I also don't feel comfortable with green Beans or anything that has a skin to it. How are others doing with these foods?

We went out to dinner last night. The salad was served first. I love salads, but prior to the band I had problems digesting them. I started to eat it real slow and then just got scared. I thought the cucumbers were really hard to chew and swallow. I just stopped. Are others as scared as I am or do I just need to get over this? I had steamed chicken with a mushroom ragu and it was delicious. The chicken was so moist. I was able to eat half of it and the rest is in my lunch today.

Thanks for all the posts as each individual post helps us all.

[Pinkylee 7]

Barbara--

The brocolli was steamed to smitherines.--flowers only. Sorry about that.

I'm extra careful about what I eat when out since my last fill also. Any bite that doesn't chew up well, I spit out as unobstrusively as I can. I think the laughter and conversation with friends at restaurants can lead to a tighter band sometimes.

I've got my blender revved up and I'm doing battle with the next ten pounds. I'm hoping losing with loosen the band--it did before.

I'm frightened of PB's and golfballs too. No bite is worth the pain--but I still "test" the waters anyway sometimes.

Good luck over the long weekend. I'm packing a cooler with some lofat cheese--just in case--we have several family parties this weekend.

[Barbara12375 0]

I know everyone is different but I eat all vegatables without concern. I was surprised this morning when I ate some big green seedless grapes. The skin on them was pretty tough and I was (gross) spitting out the skin. Then a couple skins slipped pass and I swallowed them and, ......... nothing. So I continued to eat them, skins and all, and everything was fine.

My biggest problem is dry meat and most all bread products. I have always been a huge bread lover..........all kinds of bread, so this is the toughest thing for me to do without.

Night before last I made meatloaf and I overcooked it. Dry! Yuck, it didn't work. Yesterday I ordered a mushroom, bacon burger in a restaurant. It was overcooked by my standards and even without the bun, I couldn't get it down. I tried three little bites and got golf ball each time. My husband was eating country fried steak and with lots of gravy on it, it went down without any problem. Not exactly what I should be eating, but the three bites that I had won't make or break this diet.

My latest favorite is Alouette Creme Brie cheese (without the rind). I could eat an entire container in one sitting. I ate it with my grapes and some cantaloupe for Breakfast today and it was awesome. It's a good source of Protein too.

Hope everyone is having a good day. I need some motivation to get back into the exercise routine. I feel so good when I exercise regularly but when I get off track and skip a day or two I can't seem to get re-motivated. Any suggestions?

[Pinkylee 7]

Barbara

I have the same problem--I finally decided that I would consider exercise as part of my daily routine--like brushing my teeth. Sometimes I brush longer, but I always brush. I woke up tired today so exercise was not so energetic, but I got it done.

Hurrah! I seem to be able to eat a little more without PB's. Maybe I'm just more careful, but it feels good to finish something!

My favorite snack is mangos. And cheese--any kind will do. I started snacking after dinner--something I had given up since banding. I need to get back to no eating after dinner.< /span>

Oh for the good old days of l - 2 pounds a week loss. I haven't seen a new number come up on the scale for almost a month. I've been seeing 212 off and on most of August. I'm beginning to wonder if there is a 210 on my scale.

[suefwd 0]

Hi,

I have not been receiving the JUne band messages.. I was on the list and I don't know what happened... Who do I need to contact to put me back on the list?

I also joined the challenge for Xmas time weight loss goals and I don;'t know why I have not received any messages...Please let me know who to contact..

thanks

Susan

[Barbara12375 0]

Ok, I'm claiming another three pound loss. I have been bouncing around for a few days so I've decided if I claim it that will make it mine. Can't wait to get into the 220's.........Onederland is on the horizon.

Thanks for your thoughts, Pinky. Now when I brush my teeth I will at least think about exercising. I'm going walking this morning. Maybe not as far as I should but it's a start.

Is there anyone out there as excited about football season as I am. College football (especially the SEC) is the one thing that can keep me out of the casinos on the weekends. Of course with football comes Buffalo wings, barbeque, pizza, nachos, chips, dip, etc. At least I'm not a beer drinker.

Hope everyone has a great weekend and holiday. Let's enjoy ourselves but just with smaller quantities.

[Pinkylee 7]

Hi,

I have not been receiving the JUne band messages.. I was on the list and I don't know what happened... Who do I need to contact to put me back on the list?

I also joined the challenge for Xmas time weight loss goals and I don;'t know why I have not received any messages...Please let me know who to contact..

thanks

Susan

:welcomeB:

Susan--

I think everything is done on the June band sight. Just add your info on the Christmas challenge in your signature line.

As far as June messages--I believe everything for Junebies is on this thread. I don't think there are messages sent unless you mean the email alerts from lapbandtalk.com. If that's what you mean--click on the "reply" button at the bottom of the last message . Before you send--Scroll down to "additional options" "Notification Type" and make sure instant email notifications is clicked. You don't actually have to send a reply.

Every Junebie is welcome and encouraged to post their "whatevers". Welcome--we like "newbies". Hope you are doing well on your "journey" to goal. Let us know how it's coming.

[Pinkylee 7]

:update: H20 Challenge

For the week Barbara4 is again the clear winner--

Barbara4 - 7

Chako Lady - 5

Pinkylee - 4

Barbara 1 - 1

Poodles - 1

Last week is our last week of official posting. Continue to add your blue smileys if it helps you drink the water!

Please pm me if you have updates to any of the weeks totals.

Thanks

[Melissa Lea 1]

I completely understand about the exercise thing. It's SSSOOOOO hard to get started and keep a routine. But I do feel so much better everytime I go for my walk. I am up to a 4 mile walk. Last night it took me 1 hour and 10 minutes. On my commute home from work, I do everything in my power to talk myself out of the walk. I moan and groan the whole time I am changing clothes, driving to the park, and even starting the walk. But once I get going I feel so much better. Hang in there and keep trucking along. We can do it!!!!

Melissa Lea

[barbara465 2]

I have been really bad about the exercise. I really haven't done it!!! I walk now and then, but probably not enough to count. That is my next personal challenge.

I am finding that with eating "food" I am less hungry. I'm still staying within 1000 - 1200 calories a day, but eating solids. If I do this I am much more satisfied. I am concentrating on this as well. I'm still too scared to eat "iffy" foods, but I need to increase my vegetable intake. I've pretty much stuck to peas, Beans in a can, brocolli in low fat cheese sauce, carrots. I've tried a few more, but don't feel real comfortable.

I'm planning on taking care of me this weekend: facial, nails, hair, shopping. DH is in a golf tournament sat/sun so he'll be gone. The tournament ends with a pot luck on sun. I didn't want to attend, but guess I will for DH.

Hope everyone has a wonderful long weekend. Post your updates for the christmas challenge in your signature line. Let's get some feedback on progress.

[Melissa Lea 1]

Have a Happy and Safe Labor Day!

:( :(

Melissa Lea

[barbara465 2]

On my 2nd bite of lunch I got stuck on a Water chestnut. This is maddness. I have tried holding my breath, standing up, arms raised, bending over, taking sips of water. I have sorta PB twice. If I take a sip of water pain, pain. This has been going on for almost 4 hours. I don't know if something is stuck or what. What should I do?