Dr. Gerald Kirshenbaum - Considering Dr. Kirshenbaum

[Woofay 0]

Hey...I like the turkey cookie/low carb thing. (actually, they are a honey cookie that is rolled and cut into turkeys...then thickly frosted and decorated ) I wish I could say they came out crappy...but they are wonderful! I was smart though and left them at my Mother's! I did splurge and had one with a cup of coffee last night....oh heaven!:hungry: Not like the scale is moving anyhow! (*^%#$!@ scale!)

Dee~ Pretty soon you should start feeling better. It takes about a week, (different with everyone) but soon you will be full of energy and that scale will freak you out cuz it goes down so fast! Like Dynamo said though, its just not a way to live everyday for me.

Taynah~ mmmmmmmmmm German chocolate! Fine, German chocolate...slowly melting on my tongue as I smash it into every taste bud before it slips down my throat and then going for my next chunk....

Some people like cyber sex....I prefer to cyber eat! mmmm going cyber fooding....hahahaha! It's as good as those "Food Dreams" I have when I'm dieting....and they are calorie free! (I'm not the only one that has food dreams, am I?) Oh my! It may be time to save up for that psychiatrist, huh? Think I'm cracking with the pressure of the holiday foods!

Have a great day, All!

[Lap_dancer 8]

Anita...step away from the cookie dough. BAAAAD news. Sugar can send me to the moon.

Enjoy the parade.

Dee I love to be called a loser.

Friends I posted a photo of me just now, no makeup, hair up so you can see my fleshy neck is fading. WOO HOO

[ShelbiCallie 0]

Wow, Lap~~ What a difference! You look great -- way to go!

[Jubilee 0]

I was told 200 for the first one and 150 there after but thats because Dr.K didnt perform my surgery, i had it done in Mexico. I am flying in on Nov 30th for my fill with Dr K. I'll let you know how it goes.

[Taynuh 1]

Taynuh, what's the latest on Tanner's arrival?

Shelbie,

I am like 2.5 - 3.5 weeks away from going down.... I'm super-psyched. Getting the room ready... getting me ready...lol We bought Tessa a new book, "I'm a big sister now"... hopefully that will prep her a bit...

I am getting sooooooo impatient....

Tina

[munchkin392 1]

Woofay,

I get in Monday, December 3rd in the afternoon. I was wondering if you guys are doing RR that Tuesday? It would be great to meet everybody!

Tied2BFit,

You could have just driven your car through the front of the salon and then proceeded with your hair appointment as if nothing happened! (Did anyone see that news article? Actually happened in Alaska!)

[Mal 0]

Aloha Gals!

Woof~I know you are enjoying yourself with your bro.

Taynuh~Tessa and Tanner...I love their names! How exciting!!!!

Lap~I can deff see the loss! Congrats!

Tied2b~the kitty is doing good. He has the sneezies though...

8lbs! WOW, good for you, keep it up!

I had to cancel my appointment with Dr. K for tomorrow, I just couldn't make it...darn. I am hoping that I am at a good fill...after reading Lap's post, I think I will be okay for another month...I hope!

I can't tell you all the last time I was in a fitting room to try anything on...what a terrible experience (now I remember why I stayed clear in the first place). I had a gift card for Kiohl's and thought I would try on a few sweaters. Long story short, I left with nothing and gave my gift card to my son!

Monday, Monday...have a great day!

[ShelbiCallie 0]

Dee-- 8 pounds is fantabulous! WOW!

Mal -- I avoid dressing rooms like the plague! But it won't be long until you're gliding into Kohl's, thumbing through the racks, and spending way too much because you look so freakin' gorgeous and skinny in everything you try on that you can't chose just one item. Next winter will be a different Kohl's shopping experience, for sure!

[bookholder 0]

Dee- Wow 8 lbs, off to a roaring start!!! Only 10 days to go, I am so excited for you!!!!

Lapdancer- You look great the difference is very obvious!!

Everyone else, I cant't wait for next RR, that was a blast and so very helpful to my outlook.

So how do you figure out if you need a fill? I can eat way more than I think I should but I also have foods that will not go down and have PB'd three times this week. The scale does not seem to be moving in the last week or so but it is my TOM, too. I made an appointment for December 11th but am having second thoughts. So confused just don't know what to do. Any advise? :help:

[divaofsongs 42]

I am having my surgery with Dr. Kirshenbaum on Dec. 13, 2007 and would love to hear some feedback. I have a very high BMI of 62.2 and I am worried about being too big for him to safely band. Has anyone on this board been over 60 BMI and had Dr. Kirshenbaum as your surgeon?

[Mal 0]

Book~here is some info about fills, I think you might need an adjustment. I had an appointment for today at 4:45 that I had to cancel, maybe it is still available??? Let us know how it goes.

Adjustments

How to Tell When You Are Perfectly Adjusted

You are losing 1-2 pounds per week.

If you are not losing 1-2 pounds per week:

A. You may need an eating adjustment

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

B. You may need a behavior adjustment

1. Are you eating only when you are hungry?

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

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

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

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

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. Oranges, 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

This was written by

Jessie H. Ahroni, Ph.D., A.R.N.P., C.D.E., B.C.-A.D.M.

[Mal 0]

I am having my surgery with Dr. Kirshenbaum on Dec. 13, 2007 and would love to hear some feedback. I have a very high BMI of 62.2 and I am worried about being too big for him to safely band. Has anyone on this board been over 60 BMI and had Dr. Kirshenbaum as your surgeon?

Welcome!

My BMI was at 50. Congrats on your LB date, being worried is normal. I just wanted to let you know that Dr. K is a superb surgeon.

[Mal 0]

Dee--

Mal -- I avoid dressing rooms like the plague! But it won't be long until you're gliding into Kohl's, thumbing through the racks, and spending way too much because you look so freakin' gorgeous and skinny in everything you try on that you can't chose just one item. Next winter will be a different Kohl's shopping experience, for sure!

Thanks for the pep talk! Dressing rooms are my forever enemy~

[Woofay 0]

Tied2bfit~mmmmmmm I sure don't remember who the scale whore was....who was that??? ;) I still am a little bit. I get that way more so when I know I'm doing a good job with eating. Like lately. Lordy, I haven't been able to eat a thing. I know I'm under a 1000 kcal a day, even with my Protein Shake. And that darn scale just will not amuze me. Even this morning its still in the same place. Rats. I am too tight though and I think that I will make an appointment to try and get some taken out. Just like Taynuh. Maybe .2cc? I'm glad your feeling better and getting some of your energy back. Watch your Blood Sugars, they will drop and level off right now d/t no carbs to spike it.

Missmonaaz~ Welcome to the board!:whoo: And congrats on your banding date! Its a great life adventure and your gonna love it! Scary, exciting, frustrating and rewarding...all in one!

Lap Dancer~ great pics and your face is really changing! Exciting, isn't it? How is your new fill treating you?

Mal, Niknacnut, Bookholder, Dynamo, Mare~ Hi and Happy Thanksgiving! I'm looking forward to my mashed tatoes and pro-shake!:nervous

Munchkin~ are you coming from out of state? Lets see what we can do about getting some of us together at RR~ (I'm always up for going out to eat!:hungry:)

Have a lovely day, All!

[Woofay 0]

Mal~ thank you for posting that info again...I think I'll print it out and put it on my fridge. I could use that reminder. And yes, I'm going for soft calories right now. It's that or nothing, and my mind is sure I'm starving to death right now! (:violin:do you hear the violins?)

The dressing room will be your friend soon....truly! You'll see!