kittyforet

My hubby's idea of cooking dinner is getting fried chicken take out, which I won't even brave now that I have good restriction. Seriously?!?!?
He at least asked me if I wanted a side of red Beans and rice or mashed potatoes, both of which I turned down. I ended up eating one of my frozen high Protein Soups instead. But the smell of the fried chicken drove me crazy!!!
Sometimes they need a smack on the head with the frying pan!!!

It's hard to believe that one year ago, I was getting ready for surgery tomorrow. As I feel asleep, I had this terrifying feeling...WHY AM I DOING THIS?! I CAN STILL BACK OUT.
But I didn't. And sometimes I am so proud of myself I get teary eyed. (Not a cryer by nature mind you.)
I had my one-year check up with my PCP last week. It's my 2-year anniversary with her. She asked me if the past year just whizzed by. Well, honestly, sometimes yes. Sometimes no.
When the old habits started rearing their head, time seemed to stand still. When I showed up to appointments knowing that I had dropped, time flew.
So now that one year is under my belt (somewhat pun intended), I can tell you this:
1. If I knew how long the process before surgery was going to take and all the tests I was to be put through would I still do it? YES
2. If I knew the amount of pain that lingered 6 weeks after surgery, would I do it? YES
3. If I knew that I would hit highs that would seem like I could fly like a superhero and have lows that would make me question everything, would I do it? YES
4. If I knew my life would be enriched by the wonderful medical staff I have worked and am working with now if I had just gone with the status quo and given up? YES
5. If I knew that I would learn so much about myself and then have the courage and ability to change those things I could not continue to live by, would I do it? YES
6. If I knew that some would not understand my choice yet I would gain so many advocates, would I still do it? YES
So to all of you are considering, days away from surgery or post op: It was the best choice of my life. And it probably is for you too!
In honor of my 1-year anniversary, I did all liquid today. I just felt it was the right thing to do to honor all of those who have stood by me through thick and thin. (Pun intended!) So would you all join me and raise your Protein shake to all of us who are banders and Celebrate the journey we have all chosen to take and the successes we will enjoy!
Thank you for allowing me to post this!

My Phone Unjury yea got it

Ive only been here two weeks and this site has been a wealth of information good and bad, not based on scientific finds but personal experience, thats the best kind of advise I say. Some things will work for one but not the other and thats why they call it a learning tool. i don't know about you guys but my lapband didn't come with an instruction book.
I have people checking on me, I check on them, am supportive in a way that no one else can be. I love this site! thumbs up for me!!

Anywhere you go you will find positive and negative people. I actually don't mind reading some of the "negative" side effects of the band....gives me things to look out for just in case! But there are many wonderful supportive people here too. And I'm glad I live somewhere that allows me to vent if necessary!

I'm very glad this site exists. It can be difficult for me on other sites that include all forms of WLS, because so many of them are populated with people who have had GB, and some people aren't always so nice to us bandsters. Here, I feel welcomed and among friends. I like reading other's stories, and seeing their success is very motivational to me.

I have been a member here over a year. During that time many people have complained and commented, Myself included, how negative and contradictory the posts can get here.
It is true.
But having said that, it is alos a please to know that anyone here can express their opinions and thoughts on any topic without feeling any restraint.
It is up to the reader to be critical as to what they wish to digest, and what they wish to spit out.
And for that freedom, I am grateful.

You're not alone. You've done great so far. It just takes time. I wish I could lose faster like others but it's my own journey, my own struggle, my own life. Comparing myself to others won't help me lose weight. Remind yourself that when you're having a bad day.
I still am a work in progress. I'm not perfect. I sometimes eat what I shouldn't and don't exercise enough. But I could NOT have lost what I have without the help from my band AND the support from the people here on LBT.
I have had many fills, up to 7.5 cc, and hoping I'm closer to restriction. Until then though, I'll keep moving along with what I've learned.
Hang in there.

I used dr Reilly at true results. Insurance wouldn't cover it so I paid $9900 cash to their office. I liked the doctor but it can be tough to get convenient fill appointments if I don't book ahead at least a month. The price includes one year of fills. Not
Sure how much it is after that; I will have to decide if I want to continue at their office or find another office that will take me.
I've only seen the doctor twice. Every fill is done with the nurse. He also has a private practice in Houston.

KristiRN:
I live in league city.
I used Dr Reilly at True Results Houston. Insurance wouldn't cover so I paid $9900 out of pocket.

White meat chicken is a no-go for me. Period, don't even try it. Pasta is hit or miss.
Bites of meat need to be cut to pieces about the size of a pencil eraser, and then chewed well. It is not the same to chew a bigger bite well. I don't understand the mechanism of the band, but I do know if I eat too quickly, or eat try to eat too big of a portion, it doesn't go well. And it isn't pretty.
As Elcee said, after each fill there is a learning curve. After I have a stuck episode I take it very easy for a couple of days, then go back to solids slowly.

It happens to me too. After getting stuck, try to stick to liquids the rest of the day and possibly the next to help the swelling go down. I am ok with chicken breast, ONLY IF I cut it into teeny tiny bites....think pea-sized bites.
I get stuck if I eat too fast or my bites are too big or if I don't wait at least 30 seconds between bites.
If you can't eat solid foods, go to yogurt, Protein drinks, etc. to help get your Protein. If you can't keep liquids down, you're too tight. If you can keep the liquids down, it's possible you are in the green zone but need to change the amount or speed of your eating. Try to slow down and eat tiny bites and see if the food stays down.
When I've gotten stuck on meatballs it was because I ate too many big bites too fast. If you're using regular-sized utensils, don't think you have to fill up the entire surface with food....I play a game when I have to use those instead of toddler spoons/forks...I try to see how little I can get on the spoon/fork at one time.
Take time to savor each bite (hard to do when I am used to shoveling my food! ) It takes practice!
good luck!

It happens to me too. After getting stuck, try to stick to liquids the rest of the day and possibly the next to help the swelling go down. I am ok with chicken breast, ONLY IF I cut it into teeny tiny bites....think pea-sized bites.
I get stuck if I eat too fast or my bites are too big or if I don't wait at least 30 seconds between bites.
If you can't eat solid foods, go to yogurt, Protein drinks, etc. to help get your Protein. If you can't keep liquids down, you're too tight. If you can keep the liquids down, it's possible you are in the green zone but need to change the amount or speed of your eating. Try to slow down and eat tiny bites and see if the food stays down.
When I've gotten stuck on meatballs it was because I ate too many big bites too fast. If you're using regular-sized utensils, don't think you have to fill up the entire surface with food....I play a game when I have to use those instead of toddler spoons/forks...I try to see how little I can get on the spoon/fork at one time.
Take time to savor each bite (hard to do when I am used to shoveling my food! ) It takes practice!
good luck!

It's absolutely true that the band doesn't work for everyone. "Doesn't work" may have a million meanings if you ask a million people, but some people can't tolerate the band (and all that comes with it) and some people, perhaps because the term "restriction" is so inadequate that even Allergan is moving away from using it, never feel they've achieved optimal "restriction" even after many fills. But does that mean that this "failure" of the band is as common as Fluffy and her ilk claim?
Probably not. It's kind of like how I felt when I bought a new car last year. I hadn't particularly noticed that make/model on the road before, even though I knew it was a popular one. But once I was in the driver's seat of my new vehicle, I saw that exact same car everywhere I went...often in the exact same color as mine!
So as Fluffy travels the bariatric world driving her "defective" band, everywhere she looks, she sees more defective bands. How can that be? Does it mean that out of (say) 100,000 band patients, 99,999 of them are suffering band failure? Do you honestly think that Allergan would be able to go on selling their product with that kind of track record? Not likely....but Fluffy belongs to the Conspiracy Club, so if you ask her, Allergan and the FDA have teamed up to perpetrate a terrible medical fraud on unwitting obese Americans.
And if you believe that, then you'll be interested to hear that this guy who used to work with my hairdresser's stepfather lives across the street from this other guy who saw a UFO land in his swimming pool last Sunday, and he watched with utter horror as Michelle Obama emerged from the UFO wearing a purple polka dot bikini. And after Mrs. Obama had finished a few laps in the pool, got back in the UFO and sped away, this guy's pool Water has been purple! And that very same day, his wife's poodle disappeared while wearing a Rolex watch and was last seen mud-wrestling with Mitt Romney down at Bubba's Bar & Grill...

Taco Soup
1 pound ground beef or ground turkey, browned and drained
1 can each, drained and rinsed:
Kidney Beans
Pinto Beans
Black beans
1 can corn, undrained
1 can diced tomatoes or rotel, including liquid
1 tbsp chili powder
Pour all into crock pot and cook on low up to 4 hours. Freezes great. When serving, top with shredded cheese if desired. I eat it with tostitos baked tortilla chips.

I don't know that doctor but I use Dr Reilly at True Results Houston. He's nice. Only saw him pre-op and day of surgery 6 months ago today.
A word of advice, schedule fills in advance. They book up fast!!

Taco Soup
1 pound ground beef or ground turkey, browned and drained
1 can each, drained and rinsed:
Kidney Beans
Pinto Beans
Black beans
1 can corn, undrained
1 can diced tomatoes or rotel, including liquid
1 tbsp chili powder
Pour all into crock pot and cook on low up to 4 hours. Freezes great. When serving, top with shredded cheese if desired. I eat it with tostitos baked tortilla chips.

So true.
As I read this, 2 commercials came on back to back, both with celebrity endorsers. Atkins and nutri-system. Both basically shaming people for what they gorged on over the holiday. As I'm typing this, hubby is signing up for membership at 24-hour fitness. Guess he's tired of me losing and him gaining.

Jay Robb has a good vanilla. I've bought single-serve packets at my grocery store.
Also hear muscle milk cake batter is delicious. Wanting to try that next.
Let us know what you try and how you like it.

I'm the same way! All of a sudden yesterday it was like I was a crazy person with sweets! And again today, my students brought me a Baggie of Cookies and mini muffins and I couldn't stay out of it! I had to hide it so I wouldn't scarf the whole bag! Now I feel a little sick for even eating any of it. Don't want to feel this way again.

App FAIL!!

App FAIL!!

I use myfitnesspal and yes you can customize it. It allows you to either use foods from their database or you can input your own ingredients and it does the calculations for you. Love it.

You're welcome!
I can still tolerate chicken and beef as long as I take small bites. But no way if either of them are dry!!
I eat ham, turkey, white meat chicken, tuna, ground beef, the occasional steak medium well, pork loin if it's not dry or has a sauce. I can also tolerate soft fish like tilapia and love shrimp but have to chew and take super tiny bites! I love crabmeat too but that's usually mushy anyway.
When I make taco Soup with ground beef or chicken tortilla soup, I add extra Beans To both for added Protein and it helps keep me full.
I'm also ok with small amounts of Pasta and rice but don't try them often, maybe once or twice a month. While I love super soft white bread, my band doesn't. Got stuck on a piece the other day. I've basically stopped eating it to prevent problems.
I track my food and can see when I need more protein and what I can have that will help me
Reach my goals. If you're interested, check out myfitnesspal.com and friend me. You can view my eating diary...I'm not always good but I try. Lots of friends from here are there as well and whenever I see what they eat, it motivates me to do better.
Good luck!! Feel free to email me anytime.
Kittyforet@yahoo.com
Kristi

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!!