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Blog 82010
 

Snow-cream (healthy-ish)

I was whining earlier today about not being able to make snow ice-cream that I could eat, sooooo...here ya go.   1 large bowl fresh clean snow 2 cups skim milk 1 package sugar free instant pudding   Mix the pudding and skim milk until well blended but before it thickens, quickly mix into the snow. Tada! Low fat, sugar-free, and mostly water.   We used chocolate...interesting after after the conversations last weekend with the five year old about yellow and brown snow, but still fairly tasty.
SoccerMomma73

SoccerMomma73

3
Blog 73848
 

Dare I say it?

After my ranting and raving yesterday, I was pleasantly shocked this morning to step on the scale and see I was down 2 lbs. It felt like magic time again! Maybe my anger scared the pounds off. Anyway, I'm certainly glad to be losing once again - I really didn't believe it and had to weigh myself 3 times this morning. It's probably good the plateau happened. Now I know when it happens again it really will end. Of course, my little voice of self doubt will be nagging at me till my weigh in next week so I can see it's REALLY over! Yay:thumbup: - what a relief!
grizzlyrider

grizzlyrider

3
LoseIt!'s Blog
 

Ho Hum

I'm feeling very "ho hum" today. Not great, not bad...just a little bored. I know that once I can go back to Jazzercise (two more weeks) that will get me revved up again. I am just not a walker so right now, it is hard to get motivated to "work out".   So, I'm trying to do other things. Tonight I decided to have my first massage post-banding. I don't think it will be an issue since I have no problem lying on my stomach. I guess if it bothers me I will just ask them to let me do it on my back.   On a completely random note, I started using cocoa butter on my stretch marks. That stuff really works. I'm quite impressed!   Do you all have anything good you used on your scars? I'm in the market. My incisions still have some healing to do, so I have some time to shop around. :tongue_smilie:
LoseIt!

LoseIt!

3
Big Blog Girl
 

Ooops, I Did It Again! (Not the Britney version)

CURRENT MOOD: Aha! :tongue_smilie:   I ate too much!   Wow! When I get restriction I really get restriction. It's been almost two weeks since I got my second fill and I've had some issues adjusting. A couple of vomit/slime episodes and definite pain from eating too fast or the wrong food, followed by swelling and finally relief.   Today, I really can't eat more than 4 ounces, no matter how healthy the food is! Just finished lunch and I am now very uncomfortable. I ate 1 very small black cod fillet -- it was no more than 3 ounces --, about 1 ounce of steamed spinach and two very very small slices of raw tuna - less than an ounce. Well, I'm sitting here wishing I could burp. I can feel the food sitting at the bottom of my throat and I'm just waiting for that 1/2 hour to pass so I can take a few sips of water and get this food moving down. I seriously considered getting rice on the side when I got my lunch but opted for the tuna instead. The tuna is in the refrigerator, with the miso soup, having earned a reprieve for this meal at least!   I've seen people post that their restriction levels are different day-to-day or that a fill sometimes takes a while to settle that's why I say that I have good restriction TODAY. I hope it stays like this.   Mexico is one week away, which can't come soon enough since we're facing a blizzard, and I've already met my mini goal of 10 lbs since the fill. Time for a fiesta!   Hope those of you facing down the snow (on the ground or about to arrive) have plenty of TP and protein powder!   B
BarbaraWM

BarbaraWM

1
Blog 78023
 

My first fill

I haven't blogged in a long time. I don't know why. I think life (and the Words With Friends game) got in the way.   Since we last talked, I got stuck and PBed twice. Both times were from not chewing well enough. It is a terrible feeling and I do not recommend it. I felt like I was choking but I could still breathe. I started to sweat and panic. MY heart raced. I felt like I wanted to belch or vomit. When it finally came up, it felt weird. The only way I can describe it is that it felt like vomitting from my esophagus.   I have been super lucky and have been able to eat everything I want, just in smaller amounts. I have no problem with eggs or pasta or celery or any of the foods they warned me about. I haven't really tried soda since I never really drank much of it anyway. I have had a sip or two of my husband's Dr. Pepper and felt fine, though.   I am still logging my food on MyFitnessPal and have only gone over budget once, by 5 calories (see the Chili's story below). I am even getting the proper amount of protein now, thanks to the Bolthouse protein drinks that taste awesome!   Areas of weakness have been: 1) Cheese balls---About 10 years ago, my friend found THE BEST CHEESE BALL on the planet. They were called Krack-O-Pop and were sold at Walgreen's in a white bucket. We were sure they put crack in them, thus the name. They were that good. We bought all Walgreen's had. Then, they disappeared. Like Indiana Jones, I have been searching for the Holy Grail of Cheese Balls ever since. Leave it to me to get a lap band and finally find them. This brand is called Bickel's of York and I found them at Dollar General. The ones on the bottom taste almost like Krack-o-Pop. The problem is getting to the bottom.   The first bucket, I ate over the course of 4 days. I could have eaten more because they go down easy, but I controlled myself. 4 days at 140 cals a pop...not too bad. But I would rather save those calories.   Now, I am just wasting the ones on top, instead. This means I am paying 4.50 for a handful of bottom puffs but saving the calories makes it worth every penny.   2) Sweet Tea---I am addicted to sweet tea and fakes sugars taste yucky to me though I can handle Splenda in small amounts. So, when I go out, I either use the Splenda or I do half sweet/half unsweet. At home, I cut the sugar down to about 1/4 of what I used to have.   Luckily, my taste for sweets has changed. Maybe it was all the fasting and pre/post dieting but the first time I took a sip of sweet tea from my favorite restaurant, I gagged because it was as sweet as syrup.   3) Tricky restaurants---We rarely eat out so when we do, I prefer a real restaurant with food cooked on the premises, as opposed to chain restaurants which are basically, glorified microwave eateries. HOWEVER, Hubs and I were recently seduced by the 20.00-per-couple deal at Chili's after a long day of walking around the Flea Market.   For 20 dollars you get a salad, an appetizer, two entrees and a desert. I thought I chose wisely with no dressing on my salad, skipping the appetizer, and choosing the mini tacos.   I ended up eating a few of Hubs appetizers because they looked really good, though. (They weren't)   Then the entrees came. The mini tacos are not mini. They are regular sized, fyi. And the desert was a monstrosity of cake/cookie bar/syrupy/ice-creamy goodness.   All in all, I ate half of the salad, a couple bites of cheese-fries, one taco, and 1/2 of the desert. So, imagine my surprise when I logged it later and found that I spent nearly my entire day's calorie ration on that one (mediocre) meal. Not happy!   It reminds me of the time, preband, when I made the "right" choice to order salad instead of cheesecake at the Cheesecake Factory. The salad ended up having more calories than the cheesecake. Not fair.   Here is how the fill went: big table, waiting for the camera to warm up and talking with Doc about how restaurants trick you into eating their high-cal food. Then, a little stick into the port area for numbing.   At this point, I was distracted with a big sip of barium and water by Nurse/PA. However, I happened to glance over at Doc and see the BIGGEST NEEDLE on the planet. I nearly passed out from fear and I am not afraid of needles. I turned away and felt nothing, luckily. Before I knew it, I was done. I forgot to ask how much he put in but he said it was "Just a little".   I was actually surprised that Doc wanted to give me a fill at all. I thought I wouldn't get one unless I was gaining weight. He asked me if I felt any restriction. I wasn't sure how to answer. I mean, I haven't noticed "the band in action". I haven't felt "full" but I have felt satisfied. I am losing weight not feeling deprived, I figured it was all good. But he said it sounded like I needed a little fluid so I agreed.   Aside from my lap-band stuff, we adopted another cat. Just what we need, I know. But I couldn't resist. His owner died and he had to leave all of his friends. He is a sweet fatty named Fred and I love him. Now, we have 4 cats, 2 dogs, and a bunny.   I am also desperately looking for work. My husband was released with only a few week's warning (at Christmas) from his Army wounded warrior program--WTU. What that means is, he is unemployed except for his National Guard work once a month. After spending over a year in the program, trying to assimilate back to civilian life, he is finding that there is no work for him in law enforcement or security (or anywhere). Everyday, he tries to run back to the "security" of military life but even they don't have work for his specialties (Military Police and truck driver). I am worried he is going to freak out and volunteer for deployment or sign up with one of the Iraq/Afghanistan security outfits if he doesn't find something soon. He has already served 5 tours, has PTSD and has had foot surgery from military work. Enough is enough already! I just want him to find a civilian job and stay in the Guard for the next four years in order to get his retirement. Is that asking too much?   There isn't much out there for me either.   I tried freelancing but always get screwed in the end for payment. I have clients coming at me from everywhere but nobody can afford to pay me, it seems. My husband has banned me from taking any more volunteer, free or trade work. Though, I am secretly preparing medical illustrations to try and sell on istock.   Employers who are looking for graphic designers seem to want cheap entry-level staff. I even had to "dumb down" my resume to apply for a lot of them and I am still overqualified. At this point, I will take anything. I even applied to work the stock room at Target. I love Target and wouldn't mind working in the back where I wouldn't have to deal with people. But they don't want me, either. (They might reconsider next week when I am too broke to shop there and they actually notice the difference on their sales sheets).   So if any of you know anyone in the Dallas/Fort Worth area who needs a security professional (or anything that's outdoorsy), or a graphic designer, email me. You can check out samples of my work here:   http://www.bettysoutherland.com
Electrawoman

Electrawoman

5
Blog 80113
 

Just starting out...

I've been a long time reader on lapbandtalk...and joined up a few months ago.   I've been overweight my whole life...and by that I mean, I've NEVER been small...I was obese as a toddler! So much so that I grew up thinking I was adopted because my family is made up of all these beautiful healthy people (on top of my weight, I also suffered with cancer and depression) . Throughout the years, some of them have packed on a few pounds...but would no where be considered morbidly obese. I've tried just about every diet in the book...you name it, I've tried it or been forced to do it! I remember having numerous psychological testings done to pin point my overeating. I remember seeing a military dietitian who literally put me on a crash diet of carrots when I was only 10! By the time I was 13, I had pretty much memorized those old style BMI charts with the sliding scales. It goes on and on, but I won't bore everyone with the rest of that...:tongue_smilie:   When gastric bypass surgery was the rage, I pretty much told myself that I'd never be one of "those" people who had to have surgery to lose weight. Now, tons of fad diets later, here I am! WLS is a blessing for me.   After having to wait forever for a denial letter from my primary insurance (BC/BS), my doctors office was finally able to submit to my secondary (UHC; through my husbands company)...lo and behold, I was informed yesterday that I was approved! I'm one of the few individuals of my size (I now weigh about 330, which is not my highest) that have no co morbidities. lol, my mom tries to argue with me about my weight saying that I don't "look and act" like I weigh that much! Over the past 3 years (after I met my husband who is a GREAT support), I changed my thinking...food is no longer a comfort for me. I exercise, eat within reason and can say that I am a healthy person. My doctor thinks I'm a great candidate. I'm excited to start my journey!   Now I need to figure out all these profile additions...
tiffanyannette

tiffanyannette

2
Blog 81481
 

Struggling

Okay so this weekend (Fri-Mon)did not workout for me so well. I completely went off the deep end and got wasted on Friday and spent saturday recovering :w00t::w00t: I am so disappointed in myself. I was doing so good on the pre-op diet and now its like starting over... So today i am getting back at it. :tongue_smilie: My surgery is on friday and i don't want to have any complications. I really hope i didn't mess anything up. Hoping these next few days of protein shakes and hot tea will be enough to at least get me back to where i was on friday.
Jadeite

Jadeite

3
Blog 84844
 

No weight loss?

Woke up this morning started with my normal ritual, hopped on the scale, again today no freakin' weight loss:mad2:. I'm really pissed, 5 days post-op, which means nothing by these damn liquids, and stil nothing no weight loss. I'm trying not to be so uptight about but it's really hard.   Has anyone else this problem? is it normal? I must admit I haven't done a lot of exercise, today I'm going to kick my exercise plan into gear. Forcing myself to get over it!
fabulous@fifty

fabulous@fifty

6
Blog 72623
 

First Visit with PCP since Banding

I saw my doctor for the first time since banding. I didn't ask for her recommendation prior to doing it, I didn't even tell her.   She was very cautionary and said she has never seen anyone be successful in the long run of the patients she sees with the lap band. And she stressed making good habits as they will be what determines how success you are in the long run.   I have got to get off the protein shakes. When I told her about relying on them, she said "listen to yourself. You know what you need to do, so why aren't you doing it?" It was a rhetorical question, but what popped in my head was LAZINESS. Laziness is the only thing keeping me from eating correctly.   I got to do better. I have to concentrate on making permanent changes instead of just watching the scale go down.
minimeme

minimeme

1
Blog 397
 

Unfill 3/1

I changed my unfill date to 3/1 just not ready to trust myself! I need to start exercising but I am unable to do anything that involves feet, I had surgery on my foot and I still have pain, there is talk of removing a nerve!! I do lift weights also but I think I won't be able to do that post surgery. I do some walking at work it tops out my foot for sure! I love to exercise so this really sucks for me. Was really hungry yesterday..sure hope this sleeve can curb that feeling, I hate fighting it. This band is keeping me honest most of the time (we have soft serve ice cream at work :w00t: lately I have been having a cup at about 3p with chocolate syrup and nuts of course...and to make it worse you serve yourself) today I am going to have a protein drink ready, I bought a bunch of samples on line.
Dee

Dee

0
Blog 1536
 

Waiting for it to be real

I have found myself being a bit restless in waiting for my date to be set by my surgical team. Because my surgery is in May, I don't even know if they will set it up before March. I find that I am almost running up the maillady and saying, DID IT COME??? LOL! I dunno, just thinking that I would feel it would be more "REAL" if I had the letter in hand with a set date. I am doing well losing weight, slow but sure and it is staying off. I feel good about my decision and am glad to see so many satisfied "sleevers". Some day in the near future, my time too will come. :001_tt2:
PhatmanWalkin

PhatmanWalkin

3
Blog 85224
 

Well..I Never Thought...

I would be gearing up for another try at WLS..In 2004, I was almost through the whole process to have RNY..when My dad lost his job--and Insurance...I was beyond sad, depressed and just lost..But now looking back I am glad that I didnt go through with that type of WLS..It was not the right decision for me.. And Now I am soo beyond excited and looking forward to having Lap Band (hopefully at the end of this year)...I know that It is a TOOL and I have to work hard to get results...but I am ready to do it!!! Well I am 25 years old, 315lbs, 5'5", Registered Nurse, In school for MSN... At this point/size In my life I am fortunate to have no History/outstanding health concerns and I am hoping that the WLS will help me loose the weight and prevent future problems due to my weight... Don't get me wrong...I also want to loose the weight for superficial reasons like shopping, swimsuit season, and social reasons...lol I have alot of goals like many of the other profiles I have read...Including: Shopping in the same stores with my friends, crossing my legs, Dare I say Bikini?!??, Being able to eat at a Buffet (w/o feeling like people are watching), not feeling uncomfortable in my own skin, not wanting/needing/thinking about food (all the time)..and I am sure many others..lol
ashleyrebecca25

ashleyrebecca25

4
Blog 79808
 

Twas the night before surgery.....

and all through the house, not a creature was stirring except for me. I thought I would feel differently by the time I reached this point. I expected to be so proud for sucessfully completing my preop diet. And I do feel that. But I don't feel the excitement I thought I would. I am thrilled that I made it through the diet. I didn't cheat once, no bites, no licks. Perfect. And I am happy, but not exstatic like I thought. I'm not sure if it's because I'm so, so very tired. This diet has done a number on my body. I'm often dizzy and lightheaded, and usually very tired. It makes it hard to celebrate anything like that! Maybe I'm tentative because up until this point, I've seen the surgery itself as an escape from the preop diet. But now that I'm there, I am realizing the enormity of what tomorrow brings. I've had surgery before, but never one that I chose to have. I've never been in a situation where I could change my mind if I wanted to. I'm a little afraid of the pain. But I'm mainly afraid that I won't make it through the next weeks until I get a fill, or even until I get enough fills, that I am not hungry and struggling. While in one sense, the surgery is the end... it is really the beginning. For the last 3 1/2 weeks I had someone dictating what I would eat, how much, and that I would eat nothing else. After the surgery, I will have to make choices again. Choices are dangeous for me... I am looking forward to moving on. Hoping God is merciful and will continue to give me strength and able to get through this!
philippians413

philippians413

4
Blog 75574
 

Happy Today!

:thumbup: Well I am ready for a fill. Not sure why I just can't get the scales to drop that much anymore. I feel like the restriction is less now on some days and more on others, but it does depend on what I am eating too. One of my best friends is getting ready to have the LapBand, she is going through the hoops that BCBS is making her do. And the Diet Clinics don't really help you, cause they just want you back and your money!!! The latter being the most important thing. I hope she does not get discouraged, she will be so happy she made this choice. I am down 67 lbs give or take a lb or two that fluctuates daily now! Support group meeting tomorrow night and I will be so glad! I NEED it. I want to thank all of you who have helped me these last six months. I know it takes time to go in and comment or send a private message, but it means so much to me. I don't know you all but you know where I am because you are there too, and it so helps to share on here. I am Happy Today to have all of you in my life, you are my Valentines!:biggrin::thumbup::tt1:
janetsjourneytoslim

janetsjourneytoslim

2
Blog 85309
 

The band date

I've booked my surgery for this Saturday. I'm so nervous and excited at the same time. I'm so glad my husband is supporting me. He's happy I'm a bigger woman, but I dont think he means this big!! He thinks I could do it on my own, but he's standing by me and my decision, and I'm so grateful.
amanda3t

amanda3t

3
Blog 82362
 

First Fill (1 Month!)

I cannot believe that it has been a whole month since I had surgery. Crazy. Anyway...   First Fill Februay 3, 2010 Well I had my first fill this past Wednesday and I wasn't really sure what to expect but I knew that I needed it. I could definitely feel that I was eating more than I should be able to before feeling full.   I went in at 7 am (so early I know) and my surgeon took me back right away. They weighed me first and I am down down 22 lbs since December 28 so that is good. He asked me some questions made sure I was eating, swallowing, and keeping food down ok, which I was.   Then comes the fun part he pulls out this extremely long needle and I then ask him if this is going to hurt of course. He replied no since it gets stuck right into the previous incision on top of my port and goes through scar tissue. Well that makes sense no nerves no pain.   So then he sticks the needle in and I have to admit I did feel a little bit but it was just like a bee sting. I was told to sit up in almost a crunch like position so that he could reach the band easier. It seemed like he had to poke around for awhile until he got it in all the way, which he told me was normal for the first fill. He told me when it was in for sure and I was pretty positive it was in right at that point because I could feel slight pressure. It was a weird feeling, I could feel pressure and almost like my abdominal wall muscle was contracting. I feel like I could have possibly felt the saline flow through but I was probably just imagining that. After he filled it he pulled the saline in and out once more to show me that it had, in fact, gone into the band properly.   I was told to drink down a whole glass of water and see if I could keep that down before I could leave. That took me about 5-10 minutes just because I am afraid to drink liquids too quickly now anyway in fear of throwing up. The water stayed down fine and that was it I was free to go after that!   I was told to be careful eating that night and next day. I was extra careful to chew up all of my food good but I still must have taken one bit too many, and I'll tell you what I find that every single bite is mattering recently. So I was in pain for a few hours. It has been a few days and I have eaten a little to much a few times but overall I don't think I am too restricted. Now I have to concentrate on getting all of my protein in each day I am still struggling a bit with that mostly because I just don't like drinking protein shakes bleh.
Mary Ash

Mary Ash

2
Blog 73848
 

Plateau

So what's the deal. You go along week after week losing 2 lbs each week. Then, bam it stops. I know in my head that it is a plateau but my heart is all aflutter worried that "this is the end of the weight loss" All those warnings from the doctor and nurses that we can only lose 60% of our excess weight with the lapband are banging around in my head. It makes me mad. It was magic to me before. I'm really trying not to panic. I KNOW logically a plateau was bound to happen but I can't get rid of that little voice in my head telling me that this is the 4th week of no loss. I'm not eating any more than I was, I am NOT cheating and am still swimming an hour almost every day. (I have a knee that needs surgery and all I can do is swim right now.) POOOOOOOOOOP!!!!!!!! It makes me mad!:biggrin:
grizzlyrider

grizzlyrider

6
Blog 70019
 

Hello everyone

I haven't been here in a while hope everyone is doing good. It's been great for me I've lost 83 lbs now. My surgery date was Aug. 17 2009 and only 2 fills, everything has been going great. For the people just getting started, just take one day at a time and let your band do the rest. Hope everyone has a blessed night.
Allen Brown

Allen Brown

1
Blog 70019
 

Hello everyone

I haven't been here in a while hope everyone is doing good. It's been great for me I've lost 83 lbs now. My surgery date was Aug. 17 2009 and everything has been going great. For the people just getting started, just take one day at a time and let your band do the rest. Hope everyone has a blessed night.
Allen Brown

Allen Brown

1
Blog 75657
 

fustrated

Agervated my sciatica:crying: on Friday when i took my kids up to Maine for the day. I can nearly go 15 steps without feelig a sharp pain go from the lower back to my left knee!!! i wont be doing much Cardio this week. I will focus on Abdominals and arms. I will keep taking Tylenol every 6 hours to help during the day. I dont have the option of stopping since i have to take care of the house, my 6 year old daughter, and my 3 year old twin boys!!!.Im feeling down, just needed to vent. My husband is clueless!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh and a gained 1 lbs...what a HELL!??!?:biggrin:
Gorda123

Gorda123

4
Blog 295
 

Confession time-horrible with food intake

Over the last couple of days I've done nothing but graze on food on and off all day long between my bouts of productivity. I don't know what it is about snowy, wintery weather, but it seems to make me feel like I have to shovel as much food in as possible. We've been out of school since last Friday and it looks like we might be out for a couple more days (new storm due to come in tomorrow afternoon) and I really need to get it together.   If the food intake wasn't bad enough, I'm hardly getting in any exercise. Last week we only had Jazzercise 1 day due to snow from the previous weekend. I did manage to get out and take a 45 minute walk this morning and shoveled for an hour Saturday and an hour Sunday, but it doesn't compare to my normal level of daily activity. Tomorrow I plan on going to the gym with my husband in the AM and then practice my audition routines in the PM. Hopefully this helps, but I don't think it can counteract the horrific eating I've allowed myself to do.   Guess I just needed to vent about my lack of willpower:-(
deedee

deedee

5

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