Tami_819

I took the flintstones too after surgery, but i'm now able to get down my regular multi vitamin. I haven't experienced the tightness in the morning yet that every one talks about but in preparation for that, i started taking it at bedtime just in case.

Mental note...don't read posts while eating...LOL Great job on the weight loss & getting in that booth. I never thought about that til reading your post. There are two local places that i can't wait now to visit to see the same. It's the little things that keep us motivated and become large victories. I hope you find some veggie recipes and find out how to work around your reflexes. Enjoy that family reunion!

I think everyone just heals at a different pace. I had surgery on monday & was back to work the following monday. Pain free? No, but not uncomfortable enough to go home. (desk job). Took me about 3 weeks before i could exercise on the elliptical. But i pushed that 2nd week to be moving, had too cause things were plying up at home. I swear the DH & kids do less when i'm home cause they see me & just assume i'll do it all. Other times they are a great help keeping things cleaned up...LOL Like i said though, that's me. You mentioned you were tired. Are you sure you are getting enough Protein & taking a Vitamin? It's hard to sleep at night too those first few weeks, i'm sure once that improves you'll be feeling better too. Best wishes.

Thanks Lindsey, it looks great. I have to get my butt moving. I did Zumba on Sunday night & my muscles are killing me ever since. The only exercise i did this week was free weights the other night before bed. Wanted to hit the elliptical last night, but had a love/hate relationship with the clothes in my closet yesterday morning...mostly all too big, so instead of doing the exercise, i hit the goodwill store & grabbed some shirts....a size 18!!!! WHOOOHOOO. Spent less than $15 and got 2 pants and 6 shirts and a coat. I'm still pretty sore today but it's still a good sore and i'm getting on that elliptical tonight if it kills me!!!

Hi there! I'm from Pottsville, PA. I get to Johnstown every year for girls weekend. Actually we stay in Ebensburg so we can do a spa there in Penn Run (i think that's it - near Indiana) and we don't go without doing our yearly ritual of dinner at the incline. Anyway, just wanted to say good luck with the banding. I was banded on 10/25/10. I have lost 40 lbs with all diet & exercise since. Feel free to pm me and we can exchange emails if you'd like.

My elliptical has foot petals that can be adjusted, can you do that? Now, that said, it's hard to adjust and sometimes it doesn't get done depending on who was on it last. I have found that if you keep going through the workout the tingling feet will go numb and problem solved. Seriously though, i've been on it faithfully since the beginning of November and i notice it less and less these days. More often when i've skipped that for a few days and have done zumba instead. The post regarding stepping heal to to instead of toe to heal makes good sense though. I'll bet i do that too...toe to heal. Hmmmm

Oh i'm so sorry, but am i'm laughing with you! See why our moms always told us to put clean undies on every day??? Great job on the weight loss!

I didn't have a goal to start with the holidays other than being happy if i only put on 5 lbs. To my surprise and great relief even with all the holiday treats, i lost 2 lbs!!! I will take that!

I simply just don't get the drink. It's not allowed. Easy? Not at first, second nature now and believe it was just habit. I started by thinking about it like this. I won't let me kids eat snacks (which translates to fruit in my house...LOL) when dinner is on the grill. They don't get a chance to argue back with me, it is what it is. So, i try to remember that was one rule my nutritionist told me to stick with so i just imagine her standing over my shoulder telling me "NO, you can not have that until after you've eaten your food & if a half hour later you are still wanting it, then you may have it." I know, easier said then done. By the time i'm done cleaning up pans, dishes and the rest of the kitchen after a meal, at least 15 mins has passed. Occupy myself with a load of homework or checking my mail for the day, or grocery list and now i'm up to a 1/2 hour that's passed and can have a glass if i really need it. I try to wait 45 mins to an hour though. Maybe you can try by cutting back on your glass size? Start with a normal one for a few meals, then get a smaller glass out the next day, and so forth until you are down to nothing. I also try to plan a drink at least 15 mins before i eat so that my mouth & throat are already moist before my meals. Hope that helps a little. I'm sure you will find something that works for you.

After reading some of the posts, i just wanted a little background info out there first and i'm happy to say that after both holidays, i am down 2 lbs since Christmas Eve even with a few extra munchies for the holidays and a few drinks New Year's Eve. I watched my diet very carefully all week & made sure i exercised every day leading up to New Year's Eve as we host a steak & seafood dinner at our house. I was banded 10/25/10, and had lost almost 40 lbs by my 2nd fill (which was 3 days before New Year's). It's all been diet control & exercise up until this 2nd fill, which i think i now have an understanding for having restriction although not quite there yet, but that's another story...LOL Everyone's personal goals will be different and what works for some, will not work for others. It's up to us individually to decide what the little rewards will be here & there. New Year's Eve was mine! Being a fairly new member to this forum, i was a bit taken back by some of the responses. HOWEVER, i've also been here reading long enough to know that there are so many great people that truly want to help others, that you just keep reading because you will find many that will just answer your question like asked and/or GENTLY remind you to be sure you are making the right choices for yourself without pushing their own personal opinions on you. Anyways, the question was taste on wine since having the lapand and here's my take. We had mix drinks, wine, even Jello shots that night. I already know that more than a sip or two of beer taste different from a night out with my hubby & needing something to just wash down a bite of chicken i had taken. So I had small glasses of ....a peach martini, my homemade white chocolate wine and 2 rum jello shots (did i mention sugar free jello?LOL) . The jello shots, no difference. Peach Martini, no difference & my wine....a bit of a change but neither a good or bad change...just different. I'm making Peach Ice wine next, and then Chocolate Raspberry...I'll be really upset if that one tastes different cause that is YUMMIE! And with luck they will be done for Easter for my next mini goal celebration! Best of luck on your journey.

My first challenge & i'm really looking forward to this! Thanks Joan! Name, real or screen~ Tami Age~ 37 Weight on January 3rd~ 224.6 Goal Weight for January 31st~ 214 Exercise Goal for January~ Make "ME" time in our busy schedule this month for nightly workouts. Dietary Goal for January~ Remember to mark my journal entries down, not just in my head & keep my portion sizes small Personal Goal for January~ To NOT buy clothes until i'm down 2 sizes, not just one! Date Banded~ 10/25/10 Total Weight Loss Since Banding~ 264 Tami

WHOOHOOO! That's great!

Congrats on the 35lbs! That's wonderful. While i do not have PCOS, i was banded in late Oct & i am currently down 35 lbs myself. I have noticed that for a few days I will stay about the same weight & then boom one day i'm down 3 or 4 lbs & it follows that way in routine. Do not forget that muscle weighs more than fat so it may take a few days notice the weight drop. As my mother-in-law would say, don't just weigh yourself, measure yourself too. Your arms, legs, thighs, waist. See if the inches are getting less & less. I do not measure but i have to agree with her because while the weight stays the same those few days, i notice that my clothes are not fitting the same. Best of luck with your journey.

Not a guy but i always get sick with anesthesia so they have the anti-nausea meds ready. For me it works like this, first thing out of my mouth when i wake up is "I'm gonna be sick", take my med, puke & i'm all better. Go figure. One of these times i might just skip the med & get it over quicker. lol Congrats on the date & good luck!

My port is on the right side below the bra line so it didn't rub but honestly, i didn't even consider wearing it while i was home the first week. The "girls" enjoyed their down & out time & i wasn't going anywhere for anyone to care! LOL

I don't know any specific websites, but i know a simple place to start is to slowly replace normal items you buy with low fat and/or sugar free. Example, if you drink whole milk, switch to 2%, then 1%, then skim. Same thing with mayo, go to light then fat free. Cut back on the sodas & high sugar drinks & the chips & crap. We only have that stuff in our house for birthday parties & company & as an occasional snack for them. Add in healthy fruits & veggies with dip. If that is new, use lowfat dips. I'm blessed as my kids love fruits & salads. Switch out the veggie oil & spray for olive oil & cooking sprays. Go from spreadable butter to spray butter for some things. Go from regular noodles to wheat ones. My oldest ate MY wheat Pasta with low fat sauce & ground turkey the other night by mistake. I asked him how he enjoyed "his" meal. He said it was a little different but really good. Then i told him what it was. He was sort of surprised. I've been making lasagna like that for over a year now but never regular pasta for them. Another thing, is the ground turkey over the ground beef. I started with tacos. After you mix in the sauce mix, they can't tell beef from turkey...LOL Regular ice cream to low fat, popsicle to sugar free ones. Again, if they might not go for the change, start with small steps. Depending on their age, they may not even notice. HOWEVER, if you dare to make mac & cheese from a box using the powder cheese and/or the store brand over Kraft Deluxe, my 10 yr old will call you out on it every single time. He KNOWS the difference. So there are somethings that I won't compromise on because they need to have some "goodies" too. Biggest change, portion control. Maybe not start with measuring everything, but just a little step like going to smaller dinner plates. Then adjust as needed. Sounds like a lot, but it's not & i think you've already taken the hardest step....knowing that things need to change. GOOD LUCK!

My charming 13 yr old was very proud to say the other day... "mom, you've been working out, of course you are going to be sore. you are ripping your muscles so they can regrow. Keep it up, it's supposed to hurt for a while". I don't know what i love more, the fact that he pays attention in school & to his coaches to know that OR the fact that he notices i am working out and looking more fit!

I use the wii fit a lot. I did just order the zumba disks and have tried them. Enjoying them as well. I think the key to me working out home is to mix up the routine so i don't tire of one thing or the other. Mix them in with our home gym setup and i'm saving a mint by not having a gym membership and like you i can work out when my schedule allows for it.

I pack any of the following tuna, chicken or egg salad all with fat free mayo - no bread for me. I love the pepperidge farm pretzel thins to use with those. Fresh chicken breast, or leftovers from the previous night. All around 2-3 ozs depending on protein counts and then add yogart, s/f pudding, low fat cheese or green beans as a side. I'm not really hungry until 12:30 -1 after having breakfast at 6:30. When i buy snacks at the store, i look for things without the enriched flours - i'm not counting carbs as a lot of other bandsters do but have cut them back drastically from previously, anything low fat, minimal or zero calories like apples. Did you know that in order for your body to breakdown the apple, it will use more calories than you originally consumed when you ate it?? That's a zero calorie food! Wendy's chili & baked potato are another favorite of mine both for under $3. When i get that, i usually order an extra chili or two so that i can take it the next day & just grab a potato from at home & pop it in the micro. After my protein & side, i'm pretty good til dinner time at home.

Good Luck. Let us know how you are doing when you are home & settled.

I do a combination of both. I got a nice little scale at Bed, Bath & Beyond that has a little book of cheat codes & you put the food on the scale, enter the code & you get calories, fat, sodium, cholesterol, fiber, sugars and weight. All in either grams or ounces. Or i just use it to weigh out the serving sizes. I'm keeping my calories anywhere between 800 & 1200 a day depending on the meal and each starts with 2-4 ozs of meat with protein. I've only had one fill & routinely exercising and i'm down 30lbs since being banded on Oct 25th. Other than some raw veggies, i can eat just about anything if it is within my limits. Like others, i follow protein first, veggies & then carbs. If i know we are eating out for dinner, i'll make sure to do minimal calories during the day with protein rich foods. Then if i know where we are going for dinner, i will check out the nutrition menu online and already know what i'm getting when we get there. Otherwise, i just chose wisely. We do wing night every 2 weeks or so. YUMMIE but within reason. I'll have 6 - 10 wings depending on if i'm having a side salad with it. Are they the most healthy choice?? Nope, but i'm not going to deprive myself of something i love, rather just switch to moderation! As time is passing, i do notice that it's easier to tell how much food is a meal size. I use a small salad plate now instead of a dinner plate and know that just because you can still fill it, doesn't mean you should. The food journal....LOVE IT. That's been the best counterpart of the scale, it holds me accountable for what i'm eating, how much exercising.

If that were my husband, i'd be micro managing his intake just the same. He'd learn real quick how fun it is...NOT! But seriously, maybe you just need to sit down & chat with him. Perhaps he feels he's helping you remind yourself to watch you diet & not go overboard without realizing he's a little overwhelming. I'm sure he wants to be supportive and if you just clue him in a little bit, things will get better. Good luck!

I've never heard of that one. I'm going to have to try that. You just swap out the cream cheese for the yolk in the proper amount to fill them? Add the normal ingredients to it too? Thanks

I just bought the those! Haven't tried them yet. Can't find them...LOL I had my husband "hide" them from my son because he's constantly eating them on me. At least he's healthy!

I'm sorry you are going through this. Having had a friend go through this, the only answer i see is LEAVE. An abusive relationship is no place for any person being a woman or a man, not to mention the children. People might say leave for the kids, but i say leave for yourself. Will it be hard? Hell yeah, that's along time to be with someone and the thought of starting on your own with 2 kids in tow, is down right scary. BUT, once you've settled yourself on your own, begun to heal, will you find a happy place. And your children will see that, they will thrive off of your courage and strength and will to succeed. I would say, do not rush into another relationship but learn to do this by yourself, with help from family/close friends, but then you know that no matter what happens down the road, you can support yourself & be responsible for your own happiness. Take control and do what you need to do for you. It sounds like you've thought this out and are just unsure of taking that first step. You have given this relationship enough chances and it's time to get out before you kids only see you in a cemetery & dad in jail. Harsh? yes. Reality? Possibly. Good luck