sue11

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!

I've been watching Big medicine...I'm watching it now as I'm blogging (TIVO). I think they do more by-pass b/c they put the really "super obese" patience on the show, and they tend to have by-pass over band. It's probably more their specialty. I find the plastic surgery portions particularly interesting, as it's probably coming at come point in the future.

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?

I was "outed" acciedentally, but after really struggling with who to tell and how to tell them, it was almost a relief that I didn't have to make the decision. It is frustrating to have the "food police" watching...some people will always be that way, but I know people were staring & judging when I was overweight. Oh well, I put myself where I'm at so I'll have to deal with it. It is really great to have people around to support. I need to be able to share with the people around me, it was just hard to figure out where to start.

jsrico... Sorry to hear you're so frustrated. Did you take measurements before you started, measure again. How do your clothes feel? You might be loosing inches and gaining muscle from the exercise even though the weight is not going down. Remember, muscle weighs more than fat, and if you're exerciseing well the muscle will build quickly and that's good, it will raise you metabolism and you will see results in the future. Hang in there, you can do this!!! I wouldn't be surprised if the change in meds had something to do with it too. Keep drinking your water, your body will eventually figure our that it doesn't have to store it. This WILL work, you CAN do this!!!

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!!!

twinmommy... Congrats on not gaining while vacationing, that's really an accomplishment, especially with no fill.

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!

Had my first fill today too...piece of cake as the doctor said, they he rephrased...no cake. I got 1.8cc in my 4cc band (10cm). It's really hard todnight, I'd like to "test" it, see what "full" feels like, it's been 6 weeks since I've been "full". Oh well a day or 2 and we'll be on our way.

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!!!

I would be interested in an exercise/water challenge, let me know when the new thread starts Ljuht115... Yes on the late TOM. I was 6 days late (normally you can set your calendar by me). And the really pitty part was that my regular monthly headache started on time, so it hung around more than a week, instead of a couple days. Boy, was I geting grumpy, but Friday things finally progressed and the headache is finally going away. The monthly munchies and cravings that I get were stretched out too, that was a real bear. I'm sure it was just my bodies reaction to the sever diet change. I had the worst cramps I've ever had too, kept me up all night on Friday night, never had that happen before. Hopefully this is not a new norm, only time will tell.

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

MaryumC... Our dietician (Phd) is really against the long term super low calorie diets. She says 800 is the absolute minimum and most people should be at about 1000. It's is really amazing how the body kicks into starvation mode, you can eat 400 calories and not loss an ounce. I think especially since we need to exercize to keep our muscle mass up and to tone up as we loose weight it's really important not to push our bodies into starvation mode. I was very relieved to learn this from her, I sure don't want to continue on the 500-700 calories that I've had on our pre/post-op diet. I'm just starting on mushies/softs and it's nice to be moving towards "normal foods"...in very small amounts of course. Sue

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.

Renee... I love my sugar free popsicles in the evening! It's my favorite sweet treat at the end of the day.

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.