Lower BMI Bandsters!

[Rvingdi 0]

Ginny, Good luck wth your band. You'll do fine if you just do what they advise you to do. And....thanks for the upbeat reply.

RvingDi

[BabyGotBack 0]

How is everyone doing?

I am really tight so I have not been able to eat a lot.

It is TOM.

[lindata 1]

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

Linda

[Oregondaisy 2,021]

Man, that sweet spot is so sensitive!!! It is such a fine line.

I do not want more fill or else I'd be miserable. I could hardly eat yesterday.

You're right Audree. That sweet spot is extremely sensitive. I had a doctor's appointment anyway, and I was contemplating getting some taken out. I really didn't want to. I wanted to wait it out, but I wanted to be honest too. When I told him that I go on Protein Drinks every time I pb, and that sometimes I even slime on Protein drinks, he insisted I have a slight de-fill. I really impressed upon him that I only wanted a tiny bit out.

Now I am able to eat anything I want. Like I said, at my birthday dinner, I had some soft sour dough bread. 2 weeks ago, I was pbing on Soup. It's pretty maddening. I am not going to mess with fills right now though. I am going to just make good food choices. I know I didn't pay 10 grand out of pocket to not follow the rules. Today I have had salad made with spinach leaves and chicken breast for lunch and dinner. The Walmart Italian fat free dressing is only 10 calories for 2 Tablespoons.

[Sooverit! 1]

First I want to congratulate you on living the life so many just dream of. American is such a georgous country and I am just starting to really explore, just got back from Sedona Arizona....too beautiful for words!

As I am reaching 50 I am craving chocolate more also! I don't even want to admit how much Halloween candy I had this year. One last splurge I say before the lap band in 2 months. Due to all the chocolate I've been eating and salmon (too much of a good this is too much) I've developed a Kidney Stone.

This is what helps my chocolate cravings:

= Drinking TONS of Water all day

= Exercise for an hour a day

= Dr. Christian Northrup in her Menopause book recommends taking supplements for sugar cravings...one is Chromium I forget the other. I stopped taking them and wow...really did start to get cravings again.

= Stay away from the dreading C A R B S

good luck keepus posted

[Sooverit! 1]

Also want to throw in....I'm with Linda also....one day at a time and Linda reminded me that the body craves what it's used to. If I'm eating sweats all day the next day I don't want a salad. I've got to get back on the healthy band wagon. I've fallan off the wagon....I think I'm letting myself go because I know I will get the band next month! Not smart!

MJ

[gentylwind 1]

Hi all. Just wanted to introduce myself. I am Sheri...looked into the lap band about two years ago and chose not to do it. I had at one time lost 80+ pounds on Atkins and did really well, but my son got very ill with a rare form of leukemia. He passed away this past January at age 13. I am doing pretty good and am looking into going forward with lap band at the beginning of the new year (cash pay). I attend another seminar next week. My BMI is just barely over 40 and I have been watching what I eat and losing some on my own, so I may be lower than that when I have this done. I am nervous...I am in terrific health for the most part and have never had surgery. I truly see this as another support system put into place to help me keep the weight off long term and am assuming I will still have to eat right and exercise to get it all off. I work for The Cooper Clinic so that will help..I am in a great atmosphere of health. I am enjoying reading about your journeys! Nice to meet you.

[Oregondaisy 2,021]

I agree totally. Carbs will make you crave sugar.

[momlambert 77]

Hi all. Just wanted to introduce myself. I am Sheri...looked into the lap band about two years ago and chose not to do it. I had at one time lost 80+ pounds on Atkins and did really well, but my son got very ill with a rare form of leukemia. He passed away this past January at age 13. I am doing pretty good and am looking into going forward with lap band at the beginning of the new year (cash pay). I attend another seminar next week. My BMI is just barely over 40 and I have been watching what I eat and losing some on my own, so I may be lower than that when I have this done. I am nervous...I am in terrific health for the most part and have never had surgery. I truly see this as another support system put into place to help me keep the weight off long term and am assuming I will still have to eat right and exercise to get it all off. I work for The Cooper Clinic so that will help..I am in a great atmosphere of health. I am enjoying reading about your journeys! Nice to meet you.

Welcome, Gentylwind! I'm so sorry to hear about your son--I just can't even imagine how it would be to lose a child. That must be one of the hardest things a mother has to deal with in life. My heart goes out to you.

Congrats on your decision to be banded--it sounds like you are in a great place mentally as well as physically. The time will be here before you know it--good job trying to get healthier before banding. I'm afraid I'd see the holidays as a huge free-for-all before I got banded. You're a great example.

[Dreikalina 0]

I was banded on December 1st, 2006. I weighed 217, am 5'4", and had a BMI somewhere around 36.5 or so (best I can remember.) I lost most of my weight (40 lbs or so) by June 1st. I had my first fill after 6 weeks, then then at 3 month intervals. The last 2 fills were fine, but my eating habits have slipped over the summer. My co-worker at my real estate firm is co-owner of a Ben & Jerry's! Ice cream was never my pitfall, but I got in a bad habit over the summer. I am happy to say I am back on track! Hoping to be down to 163 by December 25th....a Christmas present to myself!

[nina874 48]

Hi Gentylwind, I am so sorry about the loss of your son, I cannot begin to imagine what that must have felt like ((hug))

You are going into this surgery with exactly the right attitude, I am sure that it will work really well for you.

I on the other hand went on an all inclusive holiday 3 weeks before my band was put in - ehem - shall we say that it was a fond and lengthy farewell to all my favorite foods *blush*

Baby - I hope that your band has loosened up a bit, I havent had a fill yet, but although not being able to eat is sure going to help that weight fly off, I should imagine it is a nightmare to go through! Is it normally tight just after for you?

Dreik - Oooooh Ben and Jerrys, makes me goes all strange at the knees!! I am trying to avoid it like mad at the moment, but all the kids are on half term and the house is filled with goodies- its torture!! I have got to be at about 159 by christmas so hopefully we can keep an eye on each other

Hi to everyone else and thanks for the advice you posted regarding carbs, they are soooooo my weakness!!!

On the subject of carbs...Does anyone else have a problem when they cut down the Protein a bit and start introducing carbs? I put on 2lbs with no higher calorie intake, just a greater proportion of carbs ( I am on soft stage and I was getting sick of omlette and fish *sigh*) I tried introducing Pasta and when I got on the scales the day after I nearly passed out!!!

Nina x

[happysilly307 0]

Hi All

I am banded and iy went great. NO nausea, NO caughing, those things that used to bother me after surgery. I feel very sore at the port site but I also had an undiagnosed heital hernia they fixed and the doc told me the painful part would come from that.

Honestly the pain is about a 3. There is uncomfortablility from the trapped air, but very manageable. I just keep walking and walking all over the hous.e

I could prob have even gone Trick or Treating!

One thing...I am hungry! I think this is bc I am feeling somewhat "normal" and not sick, ao what do I normally do??? Eat!!! I have had a good amount of juice, Jello, broth, etc just fine.

[BabyGotBack 0]

I just wanted to check in and say hi to everyone!!!

I did good today, no pbing or sliming. I am also almost done with my TOM. I am not hungry at all and that is fine with me. I just have to make sure I eat!

Snappy3K: Welcome to bandland!!! I am glad to hear all went so good. One thing that helped me with the trapped air was to lay down on a heating pad and Gas X strips.

Gentylwind: Welcome! You will be banded before you know it!

Driek: Welcome! Even if you slip of the wagon, at least you are getting back on! Ice cream is a dangerous thing! It goes down so smooth. I have to watch my sugar and carb intake, since that is what always sets me off the deep end. I am taking a supplement that helps me with those cravings, so it isn't much of a problem anymore. I went to a party tonight and there was cake, pie, Cookies of all kinds, brownies, chips, etc and I didn't have any sweets. I had a very small plate of chips,which is a huge accomplishment for me. I can usually eat a bag!!!

Denise822: Sorry to hear about your unfill. That darn sweet spot!!! I don't think many people get it, maybe a few?

Sorry if I missed anyone!!! Welcome to all lurkers who only read my email!!!:biggrin1: Give a shout out once in a while so we can known you are there!!!:clap2::clap2::clap2:

[Oregondaisy 2,021]

Sheri, I am so sorry to hear about your son. I can't even imagine how horrible that must be.

Carbs are the enemy! Once I get started on them, there is no stopping me. Usually the only carbs I have is my Kashi Crunch Cereal before I go to the gym. I found I got nauseous if I didn't include some carbs at Breakfast. It's high Fiber cereal and I really need the fiber in my diet.

I was really happy today that I actually got stuck on some veggies. I was beginning to think I had no fill at all because everything has gone down so well since I had my unfill. It's kind

of funny to be glad that I got stuck, but at least I know everything is still working in there. I got carried away talking and didn't chew well enough. I didn't pb though.

Audree, how much is that slim quick or quick slim? I think maybe I should try it for a month or so. I was bad tonight and had some Halloween candy. I hate it when I can't resist the sweets.

[happysilly307 0]

Audree, I think I need some of that supplement as well, considering that you said it does not make you jumpy.

I just banded yesterday and can already tell I have no restriction. I want to do all I can to stick to liquids for the next month to let it all heal.

So this next month might be tough!

You can PM me if you want, but I want to get in on that!!!!

Ginny