kittyforet

feel free to add me... kittyforet

My first fill had very little bruising but my 2nd one looked like I'd been punched. Took 2 weeks for the bruise to go away. It started small but it got to be the size of a fist before it finally started to get smaller. Hoping fill #3 doesn't look too bad when I go tomorrow.

Woo hoo!!! You go girl!! You look awesome!!!

So, it turns out she was being nice with her comment...she was glad I got to eat more than a few bites.... On Labor Day, we all went out for lunch at a new BBQ place; mom usually grills but said it was too dang hot and we all agreed. So, we all ordered and mom paid (that was really nice!) and I ordered the plain sliced turkey breast, a corn on the cob, and a small side of beans. Gave my 4-year-old the corn...well, actually she stole it from me!! LOL I ate a few pieces of the turkey and a few bites of beans and took the rest home. Mom looked at what I had eaten and said "Are you sure you had enough to eat???" When I said yes, she then said that she was glad I got to enjoy what little I did eat. Thanks again for all the encouragement!

You can also use www.myfitnesspal.com to log all your food items....lots of people that are on LBT are also on there. You can set your food log to be private or where only your "friends" can see it. You can comment on your friends' status and food log, as well as see what works for them. If you decide to join myfitnesspal, feel free to add me as a friend. Don't judge my diary though! I don't always make the best food choices and am working on that!!

I was told that using straws was not a good idea, but that if I needed a straw, to bite the end of it while drinking, so that I wouldn't take in as much air. When I don't use a straw, I tend to spill the drink all over myself, usually when drinking iced tea or Water. LOL That said, I occasionally use a straw and bite the end the entire time I take a sip. Even if I forget to bite it, I've never had a problem with taking in too much air. I didn't start using a straw until after about 8 weeks post-op, but even now don't use one all the time for every drink like I did pre-op. I know a few banded friends that use a straw all the time and don't bother biting it, and they don't have any issues. You'll find what works for you.

Wishing LBT had a "LIKE" button!!!!! Maybe I'm too addicted to Facebook!! I drew inspiration from all of the comments....even though they were directed to FeFe, everyone in this journey can take those words to heart. Thanks!!!!

Hi FeFe. I'm not where you are, but girl I am in a slump too!! Not gaining, but not losing either!! I too have made poor choices here and there and I know that to do better I must eat less and exercise more! I applaud you for at least going to the gym!! I am debating which gym to join (I think I'd like to choices and classes at the YMCA, plus my kids could play and work out while I do too) but it's really expensive compared to the crappy Bally's and 24-hour fitness. So girlfriend, we both need to exit the pity party and put on our SMALLER GIRL panties and deal with it to get back on track!!! Let's go!! The good news is, tomorrow is a new day, and you DON'T HAVE to repeat your mistakes!!

Hey Banded Annie!! I was banded June 20, 2011 and can buddy with you. I'm far away in Texas, but I have 3 kids and I'm 38... busy mom and full-time teacher!! Cheri (above poster) is a great resource!! I've been communicating with her since I joined LBT and get to meet up with her tomorrow!! She's always given me good advice!!! Good luck!!

LOOKING FORWARD TO TOMORROW!!! I might have my kids!! Someone order my margarita now!! LOL See y'all soon! 281-734-5612

I've used the Unjury chocolate splendor and it was good, but I really like the Chocolate flavor from The Ideal Chocolate Milk Diet (www.chocmilkdiet.com) better. Tastes yummy! They have chocolate and vanilla flavors, both good. If you like vanilla, I really liked the Jay Robb vanilla better than the Unjury vanilla. I've also bought Unjury unflavored to add to different things, and the Unjury chicken soup flavor to use when on liquid diet. Sometimes I add the unflavored to my cup of soup/soup at hand and it ups the protein without tasting funny. You really have to experiment with different flavors. Both the Unjury and the Ideal Chocolate Milk Diet sell sample packets...and my local grocery store sells many flavors of single-serve Jay Robb. I'm not a fan of the fruit flavored ones, to me they taste too sweet, but I know a lot of people like them. Maybe I've tried the wrong ones! Syntrax sells a sample pack of their fruity flavors but you don't get to choose, they just send you a few different ones. A few I threw away since they weren't things I'd normally like. I've also only bought powder, never the pre-made. Some people swear by Isopure but I've never gotten brave enough to try it. I'm so scared to waste money!! I stick with what I know I like!! Good luck!!

I can meet anytime on Sunday. I might even be able to get away without kids!!! Woo hoo adult conversation!!! Y'all let me know!!! Kittyforet@yahoo.com or 281-734-5612

My period started 3 days after surgery, even though I was on birth control and it wasn't time for it to start yet.....how fun!!! NOT!! At that time I was using nuva-ring. Then in late July, I started new birth control and during that had a normal period but haven't had one since then...had a pregnancy test at the beginning of August during my period (a requirement to get an IUD) and haven't started yet....I'm debating getting a pregnancy test, even though I know I'm not..... but I am guessing that between the surgery, weight loss, and new birth control that my body is thrown off and is now whacky....I'm not sad about lack of a period, though!!

I've had the same problem trying to eat dry Fiber One's version of frosted mini wheats!! Both times I've gotten stuck after eating without milk, and one of those times I slimed once. It finally went down but man that hurts!!! I haven't been brave enough to try cereal with milk...I've only eaten it dry as a snack, but not anymore!!!

It depends on what the package says....most of them you bake in the oven, but then you could put them in a crock pot afterwards with some sauce. I usually just bake them and then sauce them and put them in a foil dish to keep them warm for as long as possible. You could try to crock them after baking, but they may fall apart or get tough if the crock is too high. I have a chafing dish that I bought at the party store pretty cheap and use that often...you just bake the chicken and then put it in the foil chafing dish, then put the fuel under it and it stays warm for a while. You can also buy a small chafing set at WalMart. I try to re-use the foil pans as often as possible... Good luck!! Now I'm craving wings!!!

I know it's labor day weekend so I bet people can't meet but just in case, I am available Sunday night (September 4) after 6:30. If you're available, let me know!!! 281-734-5612 If not this weekend, how does next weekend look?? I'd love to meet y'all!!

Hi Stroganoff. Dr. Reilly is my surgeon too. I was banded June 20, 2011. I too get frustrated with the LBT site, things get lost and people/posts can be hard to find if you're not constantly on it. I'd love to be in your support circle...maybe we can help each other? Good luck!!

I haven't had a chance to read all 6 pages of posts but I am from the Houston area....south of Houston actually, in League City and would love to add more area bandsters to my personal support group. Feel free to email me, kittyforet@yahoo.com. thanks! kristi

My hubby went to the store and got all kinds of crap junk for the kiddos....ding dongs, honey buns, zebra cakes.....grrrrrr I cannot turn down a ding dong!!! So I am not having fun with PMS and hubby right now!! Damn you ding dongs!!! You too, PMS!!!!

I use MFP and it has really helped! You can add me, kittyforet. I don't always make the best choices, so if you look at my diary, don't judge lol

[it seems all doctors recommend different times, but most common is 30-meal-30. Stop drinking 30 minutes before your meal, and don't drink for 30 minutes after your meal. My doctor's office said I could take tiny sips with my meal if needed. Some people's dr. say they can drink right up until the first bite, and some doctors say wait 45-60 minutes after. Good luck! quote name='Pink8671' timestamp='1314925780' post='1658672'] How long do you wait to drink before or after you eat? Trying to see what everybody is doing! New to this and trying to get it all down! Thanks

sliming is when you are stuck (ate too much, ate too fast, or too big a bite) and you start to "foam at the mouth".....you know right before you throw up, how you get that mouth watering feeling where your mouth fills up with spit?? that's sliming. when you slime, your body is producing the slime as a reaction. I've only slimed once, when I ate some shredded wheat Cereal dry and too fast...I slimed for a few seconds, and was able to spit it out. Some people slime a lot from what I hear, or they have lots of slime when they do. Mine was only a small bit, about a teaspoon. PB is productive burp. I haven't done this yet (and hope to never do it!) but this is usually after you start to slime....(someone who has had this happen, help me if I say it wrong) once the food decides it needs to come out, you have a PB where you basically vomit what is stuck...it isn't digested, so it doesn't come from your lower pouch, so you don't get all the stomach acids with it. Not sure what else you need to know. But good luck!!!

Thanks everyone for your encouragement. I've decided to just assume she meant her comment in a nice way. Trying to not let it get to me.

Congrats!!! I was banded by Dr. Reilly too! Best of luck to you!! Share your surgery day story soon!

Rayanne, Cheri, and Sylvia: Can y'all meet next weekend?? Saturday or Sunday? I can meet either day (or even Friday night)....during the day I will have my kids so I need somewhere kid-friendly....McDonalds or Chick Fil-A are good choices....but if we meet somewhere after 6:00 next weekend, I can get away without the kiddos. Just let me know. It's hard for me to ge on LBT during the week, but you can always email me kittyforet@yahoo.com or call/text 281-734-5612 thanks