sue11

My DH & I have talked about this several times lately, he only eats b/c his body needs nutrition and is very rarely hungery, I have alway been pre-occupied with food pretty much every waking moment. I'm starting to see how the band is gong to help with this. Now that food is not such a big deal and not so exciting I can see myself moving on to better things in the future. Thank God, I know this is going to work. PS...great sermonette!!!

I've been craving some good ice tea, but I ususally shop Fred Meyer and they don't carry much. I'll have to swing into Albertson's tomorrow, and I think I'll put out come sun tea. A little splenda and it's such a refreshing sweet tea. I need to have something for our vacation to Oregon next week. I miss my diet colas too! So, you basically eat 3 shakes and 2 meals a day? Any snacks? Do you get hungry between meals? A meal only lasts about 2 hours for me, I'm tired of being hungry, I don't think my will power is going to last much longer. I'm starting to nibble on really bad stuff, I wish I could at least stay with good foods when I get the munchies. I guess that's why I have a band, I don't have enough will power and I don't make good choices. I need a fill.

Question for anyone... How may calories to you eat in a day? How many meals/snacks? Protien Shakes?

My first real plateau...so frustrating!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm not sure if I'm eating too much or too little, I think it's too little, but I'm nervous about eating more. I guess I will do a careful review on my calory count. How many calories is everyone generally eating?

Mer... Glad you and hubbie got to enjoy the sunny (HOT) day today. Between work and my kids I was rinning around town like a pin-ball, what a day, I think we need to go out to Lakewood on emore time to get my son some clothes for the wedding tomorrow (Wendy's son). My boy is having some real weight issues too, one of my big motivations to do get myself under control. I worry about him too...I just know he's going to struggle with it all his life too, breaks my heart

Sorry, i was at work today and never checked the chat until just now. Are you in town later tomorrow at all, i might be able to slide away later in the afternoon.

Hey...I just figured out my BMI has dropped from the "Morbidy obese" range to "severly obese". I hate that word "Morbid", so glad to leave it behind for good! yipee!!!!!

Mer... I'm just home painting today, my daughter is turning 13 next week, so we're painting and carpeting her room while she'a at camp this week, she'll be so surprised! We should probably go this am as it's going to get hot!

Mer... We should get together to walk, i think Wendy might be fairly swamped the rest of the week, only a few days until the wedding. I hate walking by myself, I'm so easily bored! do you think you'll be housebound all week, any plans to come into town?

1 week out from 1st fill.. haven't PBed yet, though I think I came close at Costco yesterday. I was winging through to grab just a couple things for a BBQ I was doing that day and there were samples everywhere. I was starved...forgot breakfast since I was so busy cooking, so I had a couple samples. One was a nice bite of turkey breast...perfect...except I chewed 1/2 of it then got distracted with my shopping and swallowed, talk about a lump in the throat! Really need to remember to pay attention while eating, even if it is just a bite! I think I probably need a little more fill, I do get satified fairly quickly, but it's still takes quite a bit more food than what the doc said, and I am stopping b/c I know I should, not necessarily b/c I'm full, and I get hungery in a couple of hours. I'm managing OK, but sometimes it's still just pure white knuckling that keeps me from snacking, I'd like to have a little more help from the band...I think!?!

Caolin... Have you tried obesityhelp.com ObesityHelp - Gastric Bypass, LAP-BAND® System, DS and Other Surgical and Non-Surgical Weight Loss Options. or Pacific NW Bandsters PNW_Bandsters : PNW Bandsters I'm not in that area, but these sites might help you connect, did you try the local hospital?

Wendy & Mer... I won't be able to walk today, family's going to the Mariner's game tonight. I'm really excited to se if those *#$@% seats are more comfortable now, I sure hope so! I figer I'll do laps around the stadium with my kids...I wounder how far it is for each lap?

Ljuht115... I just had my fill yesterday (with Wendy) and had my first "food" tonight. My mom made chicken noodle soup for us, I had my protien drink, drank the broth, then ate the chicken veggies and noodles (chew, chew, chew) and it all want down find. I feel satisfied, but I haven't gone to the point of "full" or uncomfortable yet. I suppose you kind-of have to test the waters to find out what too much is, I'm not really sure at this point what "full" really feels like. Maybe I'm not I'm "tight" enough yet, I have 1.8cc in my 4.0 band, time will tell. I scheduled another fill for Mid August, but I may need to go in before then.

I'm in...time to walk!!!

Ljuht115... Yes, I think Dr Oh has the most strict diet I've heard of from any Doc. No, I haven't totally followed it. Buy his instructions I should not have had anything but clears and protien shakes for 2 more days (7 weeks total). He doesn't do the purreed stage, I asked one of his nurses at my last visit and she said that people down too many calories on pureed food, they go right through the band and people tend to go for cream soups and such with too many calories. They had some people actually gaining weight on purees. I figured I have common sense and some self control, so a couple weeks ago made my own split pea soup and then started nibbling on a few softs. I have been very careful with both the texture and to not over do in calories. Not only did it make my mood better to have something other than clears, but it made my digestive track much happier...water in, water out...if you know what I mean...LOL Good luck on your fill this Friday, it really was easy!

dawneb... You're right on target. The hunger means your stomach swelling is down and you're healing well. You're in bandster hell now...no restriction, except for the diet of course. Hang in there!!! Are you on protien shakes? I cooked up a big batch of beef broth with extra onions and a bag of frozen vegetables. When it was cooked well, I took my hand blender to the vegetable, then strained it all. I't may not have been perfectly clear, but I found it more satisfying! My 1st fill is tomorrow, a couple more days until softs...I totally agree on the cottage cheese, it was OK before, but sound like heaven now!!!

We (DH & I) tried to go to Claim Jumper for my last meal out before pre-op diet, but they were so packed we gave up and went to Red Robin. Oh well, We will get back there some day, and with the size of their portions I'll have leftovers to enjoy for a days...LOL

For those going to the St joe's meeting...We should try to meet before the meeting to walk down on Ruston Way. I know it's a hard time of day, are you all home getting dinner for the family? My DH & kids are all old enough to fend for themselves.

Pinenut... When is your fill, Wendy & I have ours on Monday

Yes, we made it to the falls, we just left a little later than we had planned, as the day seemed to be clearing as it got past noon. The falls were beautiful then we walked around the North Bend mall and had salmon dinner (I nibbled off DH's plate...my first real food!) at Pt Defiance. A really nice day! It was kind-of nice, our anniversary is often dinner & a movie, but with life not revolving around food we had to find other things to do and actually spent more time together. Mer... I doubt that we will be able to break in the tennies tomorrow, it's my kid's last day of school and there's mom thngs to do. My baby (7th grade) got a 4.0 for the entire year...way to go Taylor...so I have to go to the school to gush on her at at honor roll program/breakfast, and at some point in the day they are expecting me at work. This always seems to be the problem, everything else take priority. Are you going to be in town later in the day tomorrow? Give me a call if you are, maybe I can slip away. The support group at St Joe's meets on the 1st & 3rd Mondays of each month at 6:45. Wendy & I are going, you should come! Maybe we could meet down on Ruston way for a walk if we can get away earlier.

Pinenut... Like I said before, it was an unusual group Monday, it was basically all St Francis lap-band which is not the norm. I know Marie (we graduated from High school toghter) and she's always been a strong personallity. She tried to get me to switch doctors last time, convinced that her choice was the best, it's just her way. No need to feel guitly for following your docs instructions, it's interesting to hear another perspective. It's usually not so lop-sided with the opinions, and in talking to Laura (nutritionist that leads group) even though she is the nutritionist for St Francis, she definitely has different opinions on several points of the St Francis pre/post op diets. I don't remember what they said about the Wed group and that one is not on the website, where & when? Wed is a really busy day for us, so it probably wouldn't work.

Thanks...we are planning on going to Snoqualmie Falls to hike around a bit...something other than just dinner, but it's not looking like the weather is going to cooperate

Mer... We gotta get you some tennies girl!!! So sorry to hear about the foot...no fun to miss the trip Phyl... Most all the centers seem to have support groups, and all I've heard of are open to anyone no matter where your surgery was. Maybe call the hospitals, or go on line. i think support groups are really important, I've never talked to anyone who is in our possition who says there's not an emotional component to their weight issues, it's HUGE for me! Sue

Pinenut... It was fun to meet you last night. The mix of the was unusual last night, there are ususally many more people from other doc's there too, and that's the first time in the 3 times I've gone that banders have outnumbered bypasses. Though i think that will be the norm in the future, as the % of banders is increasing. Did you find it helpful/enjoyable? I really like having people with other opinions and other ideas there, it's helpful for all of us. Hope to see you again sometime.

Pinenut... I'm coming to the meeting, Dark teal T-shirt and jeans See you there! Sue