I'm here to help...

[Great2BThin 5]

Welcome back, Janet. We missed you - lots!

I sent this note this morning, typed a whole message and then it disappeared into cyberspace. I have to remember to keep saving my messages if they're long.

Life has been a mixture of ups and downs, but surprisingly my food is OK. Spent the last two days running from doctor to doctor, then to the hospital and then back to different doctors. It looks like my 93 year old father had a TIA, a temporary ischemic attack, I think is what they call it, a type of mini-stroke. His symptoms have abated and except for a bit of slowness in his reaction time, he's back to where he was before the incident. I can't believe how this has thrown me. I was so frightened, I can't even begin to explain it. My parents have lived with us for two years and although I knew that problems would lie ahead, I was totally unprepared emotionally.

At first I wanted to binge and then ironically, food became irrelevant. I am at my lowest weight today, 51 pounds, instead of the 50 on my ticker. A slow loss, but my loss, none the less.

Hope everyone is doing well. I'll write again later.

Love,

Ellen

Congrats on being at your lowest!!! That's awesome. Sorry to hear about your Dad. Mine had a minor major stroke a few years ago. They said it wasn't a mini stroke or whatever they call those but was the major kind but a minor one at that. Totally confusing to me, he's doing well now though. Even though in our minds we know that things will get difficult, that doesn't make it any easier in our hearts when it does.

[IndioGirl55 32]

Janet - Welcome back. I thought of you often.

Phyl - Thanks for the info on the "5 day pouch test". Excellent information. I was looking for some info on how to get re-motivated.

Gail - I'm with you on the struggling. I know it's all me and I need to make some better choices. I think I have the exercise part on track, it's the food part. Looking forward to another fill, but I do still need to eat right.

Well, it's October and the snow has already started falling! It came way too soon!!

Kathy

Kathy - You have snow - it's still 94 degrees here - but nights are cooling off to mid 60's which is cold for us.

Yep it's all about the food choices... Fills help - but learning a new way of eating can be hard at times - it's so easy to fall back into old habits.. But you will do it - this is a learning experience and you will have some falls but with each of those falls you pick yourself up and move forward and you will succeed.

Hugs - Janet

Welcome back, Janet. We missed you - lots!

I sent this note this morning, typed a whole message and then it disappeared into cyberspace. I have to remember to keep saving my messages if they're long.

Life has been a mixture of ups and downs, but surprisingly my food is OK. Spent the last two days running from doctor to doctor, then to the hospital and then back to different doctors. It looks like my 93 year old father had a TIA, a temporary ischemic attack, I think is what they call it, a type of mini-stroke. His symptoms have abated and except for a bit of slowness in his reaction time, he's back to where he was before the incident. I can't believe how this has thrown me. I was so frightened, I can't even begin to explain it. My parents have lived with us for two years and although I knew that problems would lie ahead, I was totally unprepared emotionally.

At first I wanted to binge and then ironically, food became irrelevant. I am at my lowest weight today, 51 pounds, instead of the 50 on my ticker. A slow loss, but my loss, none the less.

Hope everyone is doing well. I'll write again later.

Love,

Ellen

Ellen

Sorry about your Dad - Prayers are with you - Yes it is so hard... I took care of my parents the last 6 months of their lives - so I really do understand.

Congrats on your 51 lbs - thats great...

Hugs - Janet

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Good Morning Gang

It's Friday and I have made it thru another week.. My stepbro & I went to my DB house and cleaned a little last night after work - gotta tell you he wasn't the best house keeper:tongue:. So that's why I wasn't online - didn't get home til 7:30..

Well, just cking in - I will cbl :wink_smile:

Thanks again for all your support - you will never know how much it helps my heart.. xoxo Janet

[kidder136 1]

Thanks Phyl, i'll have to google it and give it a try....

[kidder136 1]

Ellen, sorry to hear about your dad, prayers are coming your way.

[boos02 0]

It doesn't snow in Houston. I miss snow. Where are you and is there snow there all winter? This winter, we'd like to take a winter vacation so the kids can play in the snow.

Donna - Yup, snow here in Vermont. We have the most in January and February.Woke up this morning and it was below 30. But, I love it.

Janet - Looking forward to some 90 degree weather during my visit to Palm Springs in December. We still need to connect off-line so that we can meet!

Phyl - Thanks so much for the pouch test site. Another good resource with information about after lap band surgery.

TGIF - Kathy

[trbccowan 0]

I am on my second fill after demanding another one after my first fill 2 weeks ago which left me with no restriction. I guess I am confused about what restriction feels like. Does restriction make you feel full faster and a desire to stop eating or is it just your throat being tighter and some things are more difficult to eat than others.

I am really wanting to have that full satisfied feeling by without eating so much and I am not sure if that is what restriction is all about.

Thanks to anyone that can help me!

[phyllser 3]

Just checkin' in!

Fills...I had three before I really felt the right amount of restriction.

When it's where it should be, you should feel full much faster. Very often, I will start to feel "full" with the first one or two bites. Then I am reminded to slow down and CHEW or I won't be able to eat. That is how I would describe it, anyway, and for me... that is the right amount of restriction. I had my first three fills within the first three months, with the first being about 6 weeks post-op. Then I went 6 months with none because we were "snowbirding". As soon as we got back to WA state, before we even went home, I had my 4th fill.. that was this past April. Then I had my 5th three months after that, in July at my one year check-up. And that one is still "working" just fine for me, so I'll probably be okay until we get back home next spring. Mine are always done under fluoroscopy by my doc's nurse practitioner. It's amazing how much easier it gets as the weight comes off!! Up until these last two, she always struggled getting the needle placement right, even when the doc was there helping her. And he did the first one with a great deal of difficulty. The last one, in particular, was a "piece of cake"! she got in and was finished before I knew what was happening! I think they usually deaden the area first, but I'm not sure about that. Then I have to sit there and drink a whole glass of Water in front of them before they let me go.

[IndioGirl55 32]

I am on my second fill after demanding another one after my first fill 2 weeks ago which left me with no restriction. I guess I am confused about what restriction feels like. Does restriction make you feel full faster and a desire to stop eating or is it just your throat being tighter and some things are more difficult to eat than others.

I am really wanting to have that full satisfied feeling by without eating so much and I am not sure if that is what restriction is all about.

Thanks to anyone that can help me!

Trbccown - Sorry for your struggle but most 1st fills don't do it.

What does proper restriction feel like - well it all depends on what you are eating - ie hard Protein or slider foods.

Proper restriction does not help with the desire to stop eating cuz I will be physically full and still want to eat - Desire is head hunger... That being said if I keep on eating taking that one more bite it will cause me to bp.

For me proper restriction is being able to eat 3 or 4 oz of fish - 1/4 to 1/2 cup of veggies and 1/4 to 1/2 of cup of rice for dinner - I usually eat 1 cup for Breakfast and lunch... dinner is always my main meal and nites are my hardest time with the desire to eat (head hunger).

Some want to be able to eat only 1/2 cup per meal - for me that's not enough food - like I said I can be physically full but not mentally wereas with my dinner I am both physically and mentally full (well most of the time).

What are you eating - are you taking small bites and chewing well. These are the things we need to know - how much are you eating size wise per meal...

[Great2BThin 5]

Goodness everyone must be out enjoying their Saturday!!

First I hit the lucky 7's this morning, down 77!!! YAHOO!!

I just got back from a very full and fulfilling day. This morning was the monthly bariatric surgery seminar my surgeon/hospital put on. About 200 folks come and I was part of the panel at the end. I had to say which surgery I had, when, how much I lost, the best and the worst part of the surgery and then stay and answer folks questions afterwards. I enjoyed that so much as it was just 6 short mos ago that I was in the seminar contemplating this surgery and here I am on the other side. After that and lunch, I then went to the hospital to go through volunteer training to volunteer in the bariatric program in the hospital. Once my t/b test, background check are back I get badged and can help out. I'm looking very forward to it. At the end, my dr. thanked me and told me how great I am doing with the band and that I am way ahead of the curve in my success. I said that meant a lot coming from him.

I capped off my day with a slice of pizza, it had a crisp crust. I thought I'd be okay. It seemed to be going down okay when suddenly I got the worst most painful hiccups and then PB'd all the pizza. I will not do that again!!! I had heard how bread products got stuck easily but thought the crisp crust would be okay. If I ever do pizza again, it will be the toppings only NO CRUST!

[Apples2 19]

Long...what will you doing as a volunteer??????????? Interested to know.

[Great2BThin 5]

Long...what will you doing as a volunteer??????????? Interested to know.

I don't know for sure yet. I'm supposed to let her know my preferences but not even sure what those are. Some of the things they do is visit surgery patients in the hospital or could be office help. Time will tell I guess. But to do anything I had to do this training first.

[bochs 0]

Hi to all tonight (Saturday). Haven't been on for a few days since I had alot of stuff going on. I have been doing well for the last few days. Eating right and all. Tomorrow is daughter #2 birthday. I made a butter cake tonight. Did not even bother me to make it. Tomorrow I am making swiss steak, mashed potatoes, salad, cream corn and rolls for her dinner. I am going to eat mashed potatoes tomorrow. I know this so I planned. I have been walking 2.4 every day but some days its tiring for me. Anyway I haven't changed my ticker yet but I am at 44 lbs now. I work for five lbs at a time now so I have one more to go. I am still hungry but I do notice a difference with the last fill. I am eating meat and vegetables mostly and a Protein Drink during the day and it seems to be holding on okay. My weight loss is slow in my opinion but I am very greatful for everything I got so far.

Glad to hear everyone is doing well.

Beckyo:cool2:

[bochs 0]

Just checking my ticker Beckyo

[Apples2 19]

I don't know for sure yet. I'm supposed to let her know my preferences but not even sure what those are. Some of the things they do is visit surgery patients in the hospital or could be office help. Time will tell I guess. But to do anything I had to do this training first.

Hope you thoroughly enjoy it! Keep us posted on what you will be doing. I love my volunteer jobs...3 days a week at a hospital and the other days filled with my Family Readiness Group leadership position. They both keep me going.

[Apples2 19]

Becky...what a nice momma to plan such a great meal for your daughter. Have fun celebrating and enjoy those smashed taters!!!!!!!