Anyone here?

[tonya66 13]

Crishell - good job with Thanksgiving!

Juno - if you keep barfing, I think you need an unfill. You don't want to cause more problems with continuing to PB.

[tonya66 13]

Hello all - my state (Oklahoma) is in a state of emergency, we have over 900 thousand homes & business without power, including mine. We were hit by an ice storm and it looks like a major tornado has ripped thru our town.

I lost my power on Monday and as of this morning it is still not on. My company was closed Monday & Tuesday due to no power and today we are running off generators.

We have been staying with my mother in law who did not lose power and let me just say, I've been bad. I know I need a fill so badly, but I shouldn't use that as an excuse. I've eaten too much and eaten whatever I've wanted, I hate myself when I have no self control!

Anyhow, I hope everyone is doing okay and I'm hoping I get my power back today, if not I will lose over $400 worth of meat in our deep freezer.

[I'm still here 0]

So, my question to you all is how much do you really eat at lunch and dinner?

Hi Maria,

My doctor's nurse says we should be able to eat a portion about the size of a lean cuisine entree.

It is all so confusing to me and I am really trying not to fight my band, but it is hard. There is so much different information out there and everyone is different . . . But, it is hard not to get caught up in thinking 'well if he or she can only eat 3 bites then I should only be able to eat 3 bites too' . . . I really struggle with that kind of thinking.

I read one post on here that talked about some of us thinking we have to exist on so little food and that is ME! I think if I can eat a reasonable (very small) amount, then it still must be too much! Uhhhh . . . I have got to get my head right or this is never going to work long-term. I am going to try to stop obsessing about how much I eat and work toward a portion about the size of a lean cuisine entree.

I had another fill yesterday, bringing me to 2.5ccs in my 4cc band. My doctor said that is the most I will ever be able to have, because at 2.7 I couldn't even swallow my own saliva. So, I am very hopeful that I will experience the kind of restriction I need to lose the rest of my weight and learn to live at this amount.

Hang in there, but if you continue to throw up, you probably need a slight unfill.

Good luck ~

[I'm still here 0]

Oh Tonya ~ I will keep you guys in my prayers.

[enterprise01 0]

...It is all so confusing to me and I am really trying not to fight my band, but it is hard. There is so much different information out there and everyone is different . . . But, it is hard not to get caught up in thinking 'well if he or she can only eat 3 bites then I should only be able to eat 3 bites too' . . . I really struggle with that kind of thinking.

I read one post on here that talked about some of us thinking we have to exist on so little food and that is ME! I think if I can eat a reasonable (very small) amount, then it still must be too much! Uhhhh . . . I have got to get my head right or this is never going to work long-term. I am going to try to stop obsessing about how much I eat and work toward a portion about the size of a lean cuisine entree....

Lynn, I have the same sort of thoughts swirling around in my head. Sometimes I think I should only be able to eat 3-4 bites and get full, but when I look at that more rationally, I realize we'd all be malnourished and underweight in no time if we only ate 9-12 bites of food per day. I ate 1 cup of chicken salad last night with some garlic sesame sticks and then panicked because I felt like I had way too much. But in reality, a 400-500 calorie dinner is a normal amount of food. And when I can eat normally like that, then I fear that I don't have any restriction and that the band isn't working. I doubt I'll ever be at peace my food issues.

[I'm still here 0]

And when I can eat normally like that, then I fear that I don't have any restriction and that the band isn't working. I doubt I'll ever be at peace my food issues.

Hi enterprise01 ~

I have the EXACT same thoughts . . . day and night. :phanvan

Here is something to think about . . . I have a friend who was banded by Dr. Spivak 3 years ago. She has lost about 85 pounds over the last 3 years and looks absolutely amazing!

I had lunch with her last week and watched her like a hawk . . . She ate a lunch size portion of PASTA, a bread stick and some salad. I sat in disbelief and asked her 'how do you do that???' She told me that she would really like to lose 20 more pounds, but enjoys her level of restriction like it is. She said that some days she can eat more, some days less, and on the days when she CAN eat, then she does . . .

She is at peace with her band, not fighting it like me and seems very happy. She lost her weight very slowly, and has kept it off. She has only had two fills total and her last one was over 2 years ago.

I am really going to try to follow her example and live my life with my little tool.

She could probably be the 'poster child' for the lap-band, but she is busy out living her life and having fun, not agonizing over every bite that goes into her mouth.

That's IT !!! That is my New Year's Resolution for 2008 - to learn to live in peace with my little silicone buddy. :clap2:

It's really not like I have a choice . . . Dr. Spivak said yesterday's fill (2.5) is it for me. I am happy to not have to think about being stuck again, but worried about what will happen if I don't lose any more weight. This is really not where I wanted to end up.

[Sula 0]

Juno--Just hang in there...slow down in eating....you'll be okay. Rememer to stay on liquids for a bit after a PB....(things I usually forget and that always cause me problems)

I'm doing a lot of self-talk about what I'm going to do in January to jump-start back into weightloss. I've also been looking at different exercise programs and ideas. I'm not looking at a quick fix, but something that will fit in with my cardio...when I do it (which I'm going to be doing a lot of after the first of the year). I don't feel that I would go to a gym on a consistent enough basis to pay the membership fee...I have a crazy schedule (altho predictable) but the hours make it hard to get a consistent workout time, EXCEPT for first thing in the morning. I live 30 miles out of town and have dogs/horses/cats to tend in the morning and at night, especially when DH is on the road (like all week this week) but that is usually only one night per week. When I did live in closer to town, I did work out at a gym but dropped out after moving out here.

So, what type of strength training would you suggest at home? I have an elipitcal, ball, but no weights in particular. Yoga? T-Tapp looks interesting? Just thinking about some ideas.

[Sula 0]

Okay, for some reason, I only got the last page when I clicked on this site, so my comments were a bit behind. Anyway...

Tonya, my thoughts are with you and others without power. I hear about that in other locals (last year in the northwest was pretty bad) and just wonder how we would deal with that ourselves. So, take care of yourself.

I hear you guys totally on the obessessing bit. But I think that sometimes I just get tired of it and throw my hands up and eat. I need to be aware of the food I eat and not be consumed by it. I don't know what a 2 oz portion is...(I do, but don't take the time to check it out with what I'm eating). Most of the time I'm pretty good about eating, but when I'm stalled out on the weightloss, I need to get more strict. I also hear the things about people eating only a few bites and get sort of overwhelmed...how can that be,...I must really need more restriction..blah blah.

When my head is working correction, I know, calories and exercise will work. I just need to stay focused on that. Remember the time I posted about the lady that said she worked out like a fiend and ate only 600 calories a day.....well, I'm jealous. I'm jealous of her determination and self-will...I want to be like her...I want it now, fast and forever. But...I'm not her. Drats!!

Do you guys think we are all just nutz? Our food obsession bleeds over into other weird thinking!! Did you guys know I'm a therapist? Yup...I'm my own worst enemy with self-analysis. Do as I say, not as I do...sheesh...I have great empathy for peoples struggles. I do understand. WE all have our burdens.

[tonya66 13]

Well, I went by the house and no power yet, but I did see the workers working our neighborhood, so I'm hopeful we will have electric tonight!

I think for me, I'm looking for that "high", what I mean is, I'm looking for that restriction level that we felt when we first were banded. You know, the eat 2 bits and your full? I feel like a junkie, I now know what they mean when they say they look for that feeling of the first high and it they never find it. I think we won't find it either.

Lynn - you really made mr think that I too need to learn to live with peace with my silacone buddy. I need to quit obsessing with food. I know I don't have good restriction now, but when I get it (hopefully soon) after my next fill, I need to accept that I can eat more than 2 bites, and thats okay. Our bodies were made to eat more than 2 bites.

If we are eating 3 oz of Protein and 1/2 cup veggies, we are doing okay. If we can stay full for 3 to 5 hours, we are at a good restriction level. I need to quit obsessing with the scales and live my life.

I'm not ever going to be a size 2 or 4, or probably not a size 6. I am a good size 12 now, and almost a 10, I should realize, that is not fat. The average woman is size 14. I am below average now - clap clap clap. I no longer have to shop in the Plus sizes, I can pick anything off the rack and try it on, it fits. I no loger stress over "what am I going to wear". I need to be happy with my changes.

I can continue to improve, by going to the gym and incoorporating exercise in my life - not only to help me lose weight, but to make me stronger, healthier. After 35 (it could even be 30, I forget the exact age), we start losing 1 lbs of muscle a year, so we need to build it to keep it. The less muscle we have, the slower our matabolism. These are facts that I need to remember.

I need to realize, I don't have to eat the entire pan of choco chip Cookies, I don't have to binge when I get stressed. I also need to realize, having a cookie every now and then doesn't make me a failure, or make me have "no will power". Skinny people eat cookies, they eat whatever they want. They just don't eat the entire bakery.

We need to learn to live with ourselves, our band and realize the scale won't move everyday, or everyweek or even for a month sometimes. We need to also realize just because it goes up a few pounds in one day - does not mean we actually GAINED 2 lbs of fat. Our bodies fluctuate with Water, it would take an additional 3500 in consumed calories, this means in addition to the amount our bodies need on a daily basis to function in order to gain a pound. So, unless your eating 5000 calories or more a day, you really aren't "gaining".

I'm actually saying all these things because I need to pound them into my stubborn head. I am tired of being down and depressed over my weight, I'm tired of always feeling like I'm so fat and every waking moment worried about my weight - its causing me wrinkles . lol.

Okay, so I'm with you Lynn, next year is the year I become happy with me, I'm no longer going to complain and whine because the scale didn't go down, or went up 1/2 pound. I'm going to focus on making better choices, making exercise a routine again, a part of my life again. I'm going to focus on having a little self control with my sugar cravings, and if I want to have something sweet, I can, but within reason.

I'm going to focus on eating calories, good healthy calories and not beat myself up when there are times I have too many. I need to realize, I am human, I am going to also focos on thinking like a skinny person.

I am going to get to goal, when, who knows, but I will get there, one day at a time and remember that this is life changing not a diet.

Okay, thats my plan for me in 2008 - anyone else have things they want to work on?

[tonya66 13]

So, what type of strength training would you suggest at home? I have an elipitcal, ball, but no weights in particular. Yoga? T-Tapp looks interesting? Just thinking about some ideas.

I think a good set of dumbbells will almost do everything you need. You can do 5lbs and 10 lbs and your set. Here is a great website that you can click on each type of exercise and it shows you how to do it, and what it works. I have used it often. Bodybuilding.com - Exercise Guides Database. Learn The Correct Form!

Dumbbells are also not that expensive, also there are some exercises we can use our own body weight as strength training. Like squats, lunges, push ups (you can even push up against a wall to work the biceps, shoulders and triceps).

There are so many options, and you can switch it up a lot to keep your body guessing. YOu can do a lot of different things so you don't get bored with one things.

I am also making a big commitment to get started FULL swing in January. I'm actually starting now, so by January I will be going full swing - still working on getting starting now. I am having a hard time, but working on it everyday!

[tonya66 13]

I ate 1 cup of chicken salad last night with some garlic sesame sticks and then panicked because I felt like I had way too much. But in reality, a 400-500 calorie dinner is a normal amount of food. And when I can eat normally like that, then I fear that I don't have any restriction and that the band isn't working. I doubt I'll ever be at peace my food issues.

I agree - I feel like I eat so much, but then people tell me you didn't eat that much. I guess if I eat more than 4 bites of food, I feel like I "over did it". I know I am eating too much now, and hungry a lot but that is because I need some restriction. I am learning that restriction does not mean PB. It does not mean eating 4 bites of food.

I think since I am able to eat normal bites of food, I must not have restriciton. I guess I am just a lucky girl, I don't have to take ity bity bites, or I don't PB on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis, and I should just be happy with that.

I fear getting fat again, I fear it so badly so I'm also "testing" my restriction level. I just need to stop that, its insane. I know these are the things I need to change, so I am going to work on them all.

Testing the band I've heard is common for people, and when they can eat more,they feel like they have no restriction. So, instead of seeing How much I can eat with the band, I will see how much I can eat and not be hungry (or how little I can eat). When I say how little I can eat, I'm talking about bandster portion sizes, not the 3 or 4 bites.

Well, I feel better already with my new committments. Yes, 2008, its going to be great!

The year 2008,

Its going to be great

No longer are we going to mess with our head

We are going to change the person inside instead

We will be happy and strong

We will live healthy and long

We will enjoy our new lives and silicone buddy

Living any other way will only drive us nutty.

So again I scream, the year 2008

Its going to be wonderful and great!

[I'm still here 0]

I agree with everything you said Tonya - 2008 is going to be the year !!!

[juno610 1]

I agree with you guys about the obsessing too. Well, I had a talk with my nutritionist last night at our support group meeting. She suggested that while I thought I was taking small enough bites and eating slowly, I probably wasn't. We talked a lot about spacial reasoning and how you really sometimes need a concrete thing to compare your food amounts too. One example she gave is how an anorexic might look at 1/2 cup of rice and estimate it at 4 cups. It's all in our heads! So, today at lunch I actually got out a dime and put it next to my plate. I made sure that nothing more than that got on my fork and into my mouth at one time. It went pretty well. I had about 1/2 cup of wonton Soup broth, 2 oz of chicken, and 1/3 of an egg roll. I thought was a decent amount of food. Plus, nothing got stuck, and nothing hurt going down. Score 1 for me! I think my barfing comes down to two things:

1) I know I'm going to be tight during my period week. So, slow down, pay attention, and stick to ground meats, cooked veggies, etc. Better to be safe than sorry for a couple days.

2) Go back and practice the basics. Small bites, chew chew chew, eat slow, Protein first, etc, etc.

I'm supposed to go out to eat tonight, and I'm planning on having steak and veggies, so this will be a good test! My mom has also told me that she has seen what I put in my mouth and there is no way in hell it is a dime-sized bite. There's nothing like my mom for some cold hard objectivity, especially when it comes to me and food.

[tonya66 13]

Juno - I can't relate to the small bite thing, because I never have to take small bites, ever. Weird, but true. I keep thinking I must need to be tighter because I can take big bites, or regular bites of food.

Getting a dime out and comparing is a great way to see how big of bites it really is. Great idea!

Its snowy in Oklahoma, but its not sticking. There are still a lot of people without electricity, I feel sorry for them.

I hope everyone is doing okay this weekend.

[Sula 0]

I couldn't face the scale today. I'm bloated and crampy and know it is going to be up due to TOM getting ready to visit. I also was up early and ate Breakfast early, so I could get things ready to ship out to family today. So, tomorrow, I will give it a whirl.

I will look into the dumbells. I do use things like lunges, situps squats, etc. I think I will haul the stairstepper from the barn into the basement over christmas break. I'm taking that week off from work so I can finish up some unfinished projects post 25th. I was also wondering about getting some bands? Anyone use them?