Lucky # Sevens- July 07 Bandsters

[chimboree26 24]

I wanted to watch it, but I missed it.

How sad. I'm sure those folks who lost 'only' 7-8 lbs felt horrible. Real supportive, huh? A lot of times, the reality shows exploit more than anything. I've found that to be true, especially when dealing w/obesity.

It seems there are so many shows about obesity these days...Biggest Loser, Fat March, Big Medicine, Brookhaven...why the sudden interest lately?

[ShannonRT 1]

Obesity is the latest "thing." Unfortunately I think we have an epidemic in this country and we need to take care of it pronto.

I watched The Biggest Loser and it was neat to be able to relate more than ever to those folks. Except they're not getting any surgical help. And I'm sure glad I don't have to endure those workouts! Wow! That Jillian is something else! It made me feel lucky to have been able to have this surgery to help me.

In a way I felt sorry for Amber, especially at the beginning when she was the last one to finish. But it was cool they all went back and helped her across the finish line. But then the next workout she was telling the trainer to send her home. So I can see how the team would think she would be "dragging them down" in a way. We all know how much it helps to have supportive people around you for motivation!

But in the end she kept going after they sent her home and ended up losing 65 pounds!

BTW-I'm getting my first fill on Monday! I'm soooo glad because just like you guys, I feel like I can eat anything I want!

[Car 0]

Hi everyone :wave:

Things are going okay with my first fill. I think. I'm not always sure as sometimes (especially my first mouthful) it feels like it gets stuck. Or gets a bubble of air between it and the banded area to my stomach that will give me that sharpish pain in the middle of my chest. I've had a few sessions of sliming that have lasted about 5-10 minutes. Once the obstruction has either come up or gone down, it's okay from there. But this is happening with fluids too. Not all the time, but most often if it's going to happen it'll be within the first couple of mouthfuls.

The good news is my appetite has decreased. It feels so good not to be hungry all the time and not always thinking of food. When I do get a little hungry I'd like to be able to eat something though. So far I've just stuck with Soups and mushies as I don't think I'd be able to handle anything more than that. With the exception of crackers. They don't give me any problems. Maybe my fill was a little too restrictive, but I want to see how things go for a little while longer before calling my doctor. Maybe things will settle down.

My weight continues to drop so I can't complain about that! I've lost 3lbs since my fill on Friday so that side effect is most welcome.

Hi Ruby! I had been waiting to see how your fill went, as hopefully I'm in for one tomorrow. I know that "hopefully" is a strange term to use in conjunction with "fill", but my doctor's associates don't seem very good at giving info without asking specifics. Of course, I can't think of what to ask until I'm on the road home.

To all the Lucks-- I got a great motivation for exercising, at least on a treadmill at home (I don't think most gyms will allow this). I have watched several times on the Dog Whisper when Ceasar has put dogs on treadmills. I tried it Monday morning with my youngest Brittany and she loved it. Last night, it was Big Boy Bobby (aka the Bobs) turn and he too appeared to think it was a hoot. Now I have exercise buddies, even at 4 AM. My husband is currently on the road, so I want to surprise him with a trained Bobs when he gets back. Now, if only I can train them in Vinyasa yoga.....

[Car 0]

Dear Unruly..,

I understand the tired after work thing (I work 10 hrs days commute 1 hr each way). I never have the energy to lift a finger after I get home. The only way I can get my ass in gear is to exercise early in the morning. I found that if you start really early you're pretty much though the awful part before you really wake up, and by then it's too late to rethink going back to bed. If you're into treadmills at home and you are a dog owner, try getting your pup up there with you. It is a real motivator.

Car

[Car 0]

Hi everyone.

Just checking in quickly.

I made a really good mushy food today but I'm not sure how good on calories. It was salmon croquettes. I used a can of Bumblebee brand salmon that comes with a recipe on the back. The only change I made to the recipe was that I just added a capful more lemon juice, 1/2 oa cup od spinach instead of peppers and Old Bay Seasoning to the mixture. It tasted very good but it's pan fried which means extra fat/oil. It went down easy though. I CAN'T wait for my fill!!

Walking record

30 minutes on the treadmill today with little effort. I was watching an episode of weeds which made time go by quickly.

Hi SS,

If you are pan frying, especially using something like olive oil and pat off any excess oil, it should be just okey dokey. You have to have some fats (of the right sort) to feel satisfied and also for those flowing locks and gorgeous skin.

Car

[Car 0]

bluebike--I can relate to everything you said about the tight fill. It's been almost 4 weeks now, and I still have issues with burping and vomiting. There is no way that I can get even close to 60 grams of Protein every day, however I do beel that I am able to take enough Water so I don't get dehydrated, and I can eat small amounts of solid foods--sometimes. Yes, the weight is melting off, but it hasn't been much fun. Here's the thing: If I didn't have to pay $300 per visit, I would have asked for a little unfill. My plan is to tough this out and hopefully soon I will have lost enough of the fat pad around my stomach so that the band will "losen up" a bit and things will ease. For sure if you can't keep fluids down, you definitely need to call your doctor ASAP. From everything I've read, a too tight fill is not a good thing.

Hi Lindaa and all of you newly filled,

As someone who started off completely closed off (I'm just soooo sensitive, cough cough), worry when you cannot handle liquids. Anything else is incidental. As to the PBing, I learned to carry Kleenex with me and find a vacant area to burp. It is not nearly as gross as the real thing. Just remember the days when our stomach were just all too happy to eat everything in site.

Later, Car

[Dini 0]

hey everyone! hope you guys are all doing well!!

i'm o sorry for everyone who there doctors are being pricks about there fill and keeping them waiting so long. its so not on!!

sorry i've not been around but i've been working like crazy i taught when my mom came home from italy i wouldn't be working as much but thats not the case at all cos we've now no staff!!!

did i tell you all one staff deceided one day that F&^k it i dont want to work here anyone and up and left... what type of person does that. i tell you ireland is all full of ungreatful S.O.B.'S! i'd love to ring everyone of there necks!!! (ok i've calmed down now!!!!!)

fabio my brother is being Usher for his best friends wedding and he's back on monday so hopefully come monday i wont be working as much so i'll be on here more. I so miss you guys lots

oh oh oh before i forget, this week was not a god week for me. i didn't loose a pound. got me down a good bit. now i know i've got only got myself to blame, i've found out that i can eat all the junk i want. i can't eat a lot of good foods but junk food like crisps (i think you call the chips) and chocolate i can eat as much as i want. anyways it was a big wake-up call for me. i got back on the wagon and stoped eating that crap,

i was in town today and i was wearing a pair of tracksuit bottoms and red tight t-top! i swear i looked like a knacker, but i met a few people i know and all i heard was oh my you've lost lots of weight you look great. i'm telling you i felt like the dogs bollox. was great!!!!!

can you believe i tried on a Gucci belt and it fitted!!!!!

ok let me say my hello's please please dont hold it against me if i dont list you....

chim my sweetpea how are you? how's that special person???

lynette, how's are you hot momma?... hows hunter and ray getting on?

momma how are you? sorry i've not been in touch its been crazy? how are your girls going? both annafrancesca and i send hugs and kisses

AuntiPhly. my favourte Auntie how are you? have you gone on any nice weekend lately??

Sunny my little sunshine how are you? your never on the instant chat? miss you

kathy, how are you and those beautiful children of your?

marcyinak... well well look at you and your diamonds if you can't tell i'm well jealous!!!!

indigogirl, i love every little bit of your advice. your fab!!

Breadlady welcome home!!! homeschooling oh my lord i'd rather not how do you have the patience to do that. WOW is all i can say

Sharronrt best of luck with your fill on monday! it will be a breaze

Frustrated, i love the biggest looser but i also hate it. i know that sounds weird. i always wished i could go on one of them but to be honest i dont think i could handle the cameras on my 24/7

car how you manage 10 hours shifts 1 hours in the car and still excirise i dont know but i take my hat off to you!!

peaches did you ever think that maybe the fill is too tight! i had problems swalling and it was cos it was too tight i kept saying it would loosen and after 6 weeks it still hasn't loosen i'm going to go get unfilled next week

bluebike, how cool is that! you and your mom are banded must be great having someone so close to you knowing how you feel

lindaa. sounds like your doing great babes? how much have you lost up to now? even if your doc put too much in do you still need to pay for a defill?

Brandy, how are you girl! i alway feel close to you dont know if i ever told you! we started off close weight and we've got the same goal anyways how you doing??

ssankofa73: Sounds yummy!!!!

unruhlyhd i have the same problem with chicken! i keep trying to eat it and it eaither gets stuck or comes back up. let me know if you find a way of eating it

jacki. i hope your fill gets you the restriction you need this time. its terrible you have to go back and forth

forgive me if i forgot you i'm all out of names in this little head of mine!!!

oh about the cruise! Does anyone have a problem with us bringing it forward or does that not suit??

xx to all

[marcyinak 0]

WOW Dini - you managed to get most everyone covered! You go girl! I'm impressed that you can take care of yourself, your toddler, and your all-consuming job and still have time for all of us!

My motivation is suckin' right about now. I downed a good load of Doritos last night and I *still* have no interest in actual excersize (despite the Treadclimber we have and severl tapes I like). I make conscious efforts to play hard with the kids for at least an hour in the morning and an hour in the afternoon, but no reall dedicated excersize. Oh, I have the time, it's the motivation!

I'm headed in for my 2nd fill on Oct. 3rd. I hope it will help...I've been just hangin' around the same weight for too long now. Yes, I know excersize will help, but I've got to work in baby steps here...maybe this attitude is what got me here in the first place? Hmmm...

[Dini 0]

Marcy, sweetyheart!! if you've been playing with the kids 2 times a day and your still at the same weight would you not call the doc and see can he give you a fill a little sooner?

i dont fit in anymore than anyone else its just i never stop going on about work! its all that comes out of my mouth!!!

i ment to say happy anniversary. oh diamonds oh diamonds dont you just love them!!!!

oh my i could eat all the crisps there are i know how you feel about the doritos!!

[Car 0]

Hi Dini, I'm a carpe diem girl, myself.

Wow, how did you get everyone into your one mail?

Later, Car

[marcyinak 0]

Adjustments - for those of you who didn't want to click on the link:

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.

[Dini 0]

Hi Dini, I'm a carpe diem girl, myself.

Wow, how did you get everyone into your one mail?

Later, Car

babes sorry i missed you!! i'm bad!!

'seize the day' thats cape diem isn't it??

[Dini 0]

marcy that is a list and a half!!!

i bought Protein tablets cos i'm having problems getting my protein into me. jesus they were massive and i couldn't get them into me. i felt so ill

[Frustrated 1]

Hi Car, :wave:

Good luck with your fill tomorrow. Some questions to ask:

1) How much are you putting in?

2) Is there a change in diet for me to begin with?

3) How much should I expect to eat per meal?

4) How much weight should I expect to lose per week?

5) What are the physical signs that I need a further fill or it's too restrictive? Don't let them give you a time limit such as "we don't need to see you for 6 weeks". Everyone handles the adjustments differently and you could need one sooner or later than what's considered "normal".

6) Are there any physical restrictions with regards to exercise? I asked this because I wanted to get back into martial arts and I also wanted to start weight resistance training at the gym. I just wanted an 'all clear' to do those things.

That's all I can think of off the top of my head. They're the questions I asked.

[Frustrated 1]

Marcy you're precious! :clap2:

I'm going to print that list out and put it on my fridge!