donna12

I, unfortunately take meds that make me crave sweets and have a very difficult time with it. I love Walgreen's brand "Nice" sugar free hard fruit flavor candy and also crystal light sugar free hard fruit flavor candy but do indulge in skinny cow twice a week.

wish you could ship me some! The only target I have is not a super target, bummer. Wonder if Publix has them? Kroger or Walmart???

Line Dancer, you said it all, what a way to start a week for sure! Thanks all of you for your comments. I went from a size 26/28 to this, wow. And in tops I'm in a 1X now, I just can't believe it. My mom has lost weight too and she's passing her jammies to me, its funny, it feels like Christmas around here for me, hee hee. I'm getting Coldwater Creek jackets from her from last summer that she can't wear anymore and I can, summer jackets with tanks and I'm also in some 18/20's shirts, I'm just so stoked! IN aw of myself.

I went into a normal store today and bought a size 22 denim capri's, I was so excited. I think I will try on a pair of size 22 jeans tomorrow. So glad I did this!!!

I have to have a colonoscopy soon, have a consultation June 11th and then I will schedule it, having probs and also looking for cancer since my brother is battling colon cancer right now and the kind of cancer he has is hereditary and I was told to get ck'd out and since I'm having probs well, now is the time. I see my lap band surgeon June 6th and I bet he will want to do an unfill, so not looking forward to that since I'm in a green zone or happy place with my band. Just now got back up to 5.5cc's in my band and feel great from my gallbladder surgery and big unfill back in December.

I'm trying to update my profile pic and chosing one from my pics on my computer and for some reason it will not let me update, I can choose one but then when I hit update nothing happens, hm?

CG I did a trial membership a couple of yrs ago for 6 months, loved it, of course I am into that kind of thing and my lineage on my mom's side dates back to 1600's to England and Ireland and it was cool to see documents for that but I already had names and dates but my dad's side I ran into a dead end, not sure why. Had to give it up because of finances but would love to get back into it someday. Well, worth the money if you have the time to put into it.

Chez, I need to bump up my Protein, if I add Protein powder to food items, does it change the texture like cottage cheese or chicken salad for example?

Calm down. lol. You're right on track. Everyone is different. You're still in the healing phase and some people even gain during this time, it's not uncommon. Focus on healing, just be patient it will all fall into place and will come off before you know it. Just follow your dr's orders and rules and you should be just fine. Donna

I was in a hurry this morning when I posted, sorry. To address another poster, I did ck into SSI or disability but I'm not sure if this applies to everywhere but here in KY you have to had work history in the past 10 yrs and I havent worked in 15 yrs so that discounted me for any benefits which sucks because there are days that I literally cannot get out of bed due to my bipolar issues and meds and my anxiety issues. I had a great day today, spent it with my mom. We decided to go on a picnic at a lake. She made us a light lunch and some fruit for me for dessert and we packed the car and off we went. The lake was beautiful and so was KY weather, 70 degrees and sunny today. We pitched a blanket and enjoyed watching all the boaters and just each other. Thanks Chez, I know this too shall pass.

Oh my goodness I never in a million years expected these kind of responses, wow. I'm touched, and thank you so much. To address some of you, yes I will and do cherish every moment with my mom, she is my rock and has been here fore me during my divorce and losing my dad, who was the strong one there, her when daddy died, go figure, it was here husband. I know she didn't mean to be insensitive but it just hit me wrong I guess. I will check out a local gym next week, I promise. And yes, I will sit outside and take in the wonders of what God has created. Thank you again for all you're responses. Donna

let me know how the protein stuff is?

I know here lately I've posted and sounded down and maybe I am, I've got a lot going on in my life. Tonight I was watching an episode of I think it's titled "my 600 lb life and where are they now", well I live with my mom and have lived with her for the past year for several reasons, one she's 74 and needs me but for the main reason, I can't find a job and I need her as much as she needs me because I can't make ends meet on my alimony alone since my divorce 2 yrs ago and live by myself. Well, while watching this show I could really relate to these people who had had gastric bypass and their eating issues so I paused the DVR and said to my mom "you know I really need help with my eating issues". Just yesterday or last night I posted on here that I crave something sweet after meals and it is an awful feeling and I didn't know how to deal with it. Her reply was harsh, guess I wasn't ready to hear it and wanted her support. She basically said to deal with it. My feelings to the issue is, this is a real sickness, people are addicted to food as some are addicted to alcohol or drugs. I need to learn how to channel those feelings of wanting to eat at non-eating times to something else. I am paying for my own health ins and it costs a lot over $500/mo for me and my deductible is $2500 and I've had to stop going to my psychiatrist because each visit was going towards my deductible and I couldn't afford to pay out of pocket. I'm crushed, I've been a patient of his for 7 yrs. I did find a psychologist here where I live but she keeps pushing me to do things that cost me, like hobbies and although that is fine and dandy I can't afford it. Now lets talk about exercise: Mom says tonight "I'll pay for a membership to a gym if you'll go", great I say but she doesn't understand that I can barely walk around the block here at home before I have to walk in the door and take a pain pill to kill the pain in my knee that I've had 2 surgeries on. I just feel like she doesn't understand or I feel all alone in this right now. Yes, I've come out of the closet yesterday on here that I'm Bipolar, I take meds for it and they leave me hungover the next day so I usually sleep in till 10:30 and cause insomnia so I'm up till the wee hrs of the night/morning going to bed and the one drug that knocks me out causes some weight gain and cravings but its the only thing that will put me to sleep at night and control my moods. Going back to my psychiatrist, he kept a close eye on me and my bipolar and all my meds, now my reg dr handles all my meds. I have a feeling some of this is mild depression going on, but I just don't have the money to make an appt with my old dr right now. sheesh. My Lap Band dr has me come in once a month for fills and that has been costing me over $100 a time, I'm up to my eyeballs in medical bills. No wonder my hair is falling out. Going back to exercise, I tried to do a Burpee, omg, I couldn't even accomplish that, couldn't squat because of my knee. I thought I was going to have to call the fire dept to get me up. Thanks for listening. Donna

I as well would love to hear about your journey and your story and congrats you look amazing.

awesome! I just printed it, thank you so much.

I never thought of it that way, take it and post it on the fridge and read it over and over and how it took my wonderful dad, that comment just hit home for me, thanks. Wow what a reality check that just was. Yes I typed it but I typed it not thinking but after reading it again and then you guys saying it, what a reality check. I want this more than anything. Donna

Now I know where the 4 lbs gained in the last week and half has come from looking back at the food diary. It is my sweet tooth, somehow I have to get a handle on it and don't know how. I need help, physical and mental help with it. It wasn't a gain with food choices it had to be from the sweets I chose once a day. After my main meal, my largest meal either I chose to eat my main meal at lunch or dinner I crave something sweet terribly, and I'm not talking oh yea, you're just craving it, its like I gotta have it or I will go nuts crazy gotta have it kind of feeling and feeling deprived feeling so I will grab a bag of skinny cow candy, skinny cow single serve ice cream or a fiber one fruit bar that reminds me of a pop tart, yes confession time again guys, anyway its bad and I need to learn somehow to deal with it. I didn't have this surgery to set myself up for failure I had this surgery for myself to get healthy, heart healthy and to be able to accomplish things in life that I've never been able to accomplish, for example I want to zipline for the first time, I want to fit into an airplain seat without my BUTT spilling over into the next seat, I want to be able to take a flight of stairs without getting winded, oh wait did that last night, woohoo, took a flight of stairs instead of the elevator at the hospital where my support meeting was for lap band mtg. But things like that is what I'm talking about. I watched my dad be overweight when I was young and although I wasn't around when he was 28, he had his first heart attack at 28, he was very unhealthy. In the late 80's early 90's he decided and was told to lose the weight or he would die so he went on a strict diet and lost over 100 lbs on his own, the day he died he weighed 135 and he died of a massive heart attack and I certainly don't want to be destined to that ending. I had to stop seeing my psychiatrist that I've known for 7 yrs because of insurance issues, they stopped paying and I can't afford to pay out of pocket and I'm heartbroken, I loved my therapist. I have found someone else but its not the same, just not the same at all, I'm not happy. Where I live, I live in a small city and there aren't any good dr's here, all the good dr's are in Nashville TN and are expensive and well to be truthful I miss my shrink!!! I also should add that I'm Bipolar and along with that comes binge eating episodes. yes I takes meds but the disease is still there. Ok, enough ranting. Thanks for listening. Just need to get a hold on my sweet tooth, why did someone have to invent sugar. sigh!

hey now, don't step on our Ky wildcats, we bleed blue here....hee hee. Thank you for the pep talk. My mom bought me a beautiful boquet of flowers a bit ago with all colorful gerber daisies in it to cheer me up, God love her. Between you all and her being my biggest cheerleaders how can I go wrong! Thank you again.

CG you hit it girl, self doubt in me is so true. I feel like a failure here lately and especially today when I woke up this morning and had gained a half lb that makes 4 lbs in a week and half. I don't know what I'm doing wrong. Everytime I say something to my surgeon he supports my nutritionist, they both don't count cals, carbs or Proteins just tell me to eat my protein first then veggies and carbs last. Heck this is his rule: The girl sitting behind me in the meeting last night was having surgery this morning and she was excited that she was going to be able to eat mashed potatoes tonight, yea. His rules don't follow ya'lls. He doesn't do a liquid diet after surgery, he sends you home on mushy or soft foods right off the bat. I didn't do that I did liquids for a week then mushies after reading on here but still. I love him to pieces don't get me wrong. And then I looked at the girl sitting next to me that had lost 134 lbs in a yr and half and was super skinner with no sagging skin and was just having a pity party for myself because I have sagging skin already on my inner thighs and my arms have always been huge and they hang and are heavy. I just started walking a few wks ago and all I can do is about 20 mins or my knee will give out, yes I know sounds like a pity party and may be so but I feel like such a failure.

I attended my lap band support mtg tonight (monthly), big turnout, the nutritionist leads it. Had 4 ladies in there in their pre op diet phase and one having surgery tomorrow I was so excited for her that I was joking around and told her I just may show up at 5:30 am with pom poms to cheer her on, of course we just laughed. I'm almost to my one year bandiversary next month and though things have been slow coming off I'm proud of my weight loss, wish it was more but very proud and never in a million yrs did I ever think I'd be sitting here thinking I'd be down 68 lbs in 11 mos and how great I feel. My nutritionist tonight at the meeting was saying as long as you're getting 4 oz of Protein a day you're doing great. Well, I can eat 3 to 4 oz of protein like a chicken breast for example or a piece of baked Tilapia in one meal. Now you're listening to someone who's losing hair right now and I told her that. She mentioned to me that it could be hormonal, yes I agree, I've had a hysterectomy in '04 but I am on a patch but I guess my hormones could be out of whack at this stage so I don't disagree with her completely there. She also was telling everyone not to count carbs or calories. This goes against everything I've read for over a year being on here from all you veterans and all the books I've read and all the research I've done. Today's meals and don't judge: Breakfast was a half toasted bagel (I know carbs) and a spoon of Peanut Butter, lunch was out and about-Chick-fil-A, I had 6 pc chicken nugget, apple sauce and choc. milk (drank before meal) and dinner was 3 oz of chicken salad I made with light mayo and 5 low fat crackers. No Snacks today. confused Donna

Why is it I crave so so so bad something sweet right after I eat each meal? I don't eat something sweet because I can't or I'd throw up, I'm at my soft stop point, I hiccup and I know to stop eating but the craving is horrible and I just want to graze and it's there for at least a couple of hrs. To the point I wait a couple of hrs and give in and eat fresh fruit or a applesauce or immediately after eating I will put a piece of sf hard candy in my mouth. How do I overcome this?

Terry I posted in reference to this post in hopes of getting pics as I cannot click on your link above, if you're wondering why I posted a question...lol

I was wondering what a serving size really looks like? Terry posted earlier on this subject but he attached a link and I cannot click on it so I was wondering if anyone would take a pic of their meal and post for me? Thanks Donna

thanks everyone, I will google lap band plate right now! Missy I knew you'd chime in and I could count on you girl! thx. That's what I'm talking about, I'm not eating that heavy tonight like a chicken breast but it is not uncommon for me to eat a chicken breast for lunch or dinner one or the other and that alone could be 4 oz. No my nutritionist is not thorough, she's young, fresh out of college and never has worked with bariatric patients before. As a matter of fact and I know some of you out there agree to disagree but she and my surgeon say I can have carbonated drinks, well I never was one addicted to cokes or any carbonated drink, thank goodness I always drank water with crystal light, thats my addiction, so I never had to break a bad habit of that when I started my journey, but I've read too much on here to learn about bands slipping or errosion from carbonation so no thank you. My dr is young, he's good but young and I had all the confidence in the world in him and still do and love him to pieces and his practice but the nutritionist, we just differ on things. I stay confused when it comes to food choices! Maybe that's why I can't lose no more than what I've already lost. And in the past 4 days I've gained 4 lbs, now with that said, my ankles are swollen so some may be due to fluid retention but still. This morning I had to be up and out by 8 to take my mom to a medical procedure and she got done at 11 so I didn't eat breakfast, I was starving to say the least. By the time we left there we drove thru Chick-fil-A and I got a kids meal with 6 pc nugget, waffle fry and choc milk, we got home and I ate all nuggets, 1 waffle fry and ate 4 bites of slaw from my mom's meal and didn't drink the milk so that was my breakfast meal at 11:00. Then for afternoon time around 3:30 I was hungry and ate shaved turkey, not much, rolled in 1 1/2 pieces of low fat provolone cheese, small roll ups, about 3 1/2" long. I don't have a scale to weigh food on and need to get one but don't know what kind to buy. I am on a budget and can't afford much so I can't spend a lot on one. I figured for dinner in a bit I'd eat a little cottage cheese. That will be my day.

this is what she sent me this morning when I told her I was losing hair and not getting enough Protein in my diet. : "As long a you are getting around 4-5 ounces of protein daily, you are getting plenty! One ounce is equivolant to - 1 egg, 2tbsp Peanut Butter, 1/2 cup cottage cheese or Beans. " I thought and maybe I'm wrong, still learning here, if I eat an egg for Breakfast, lunch maybe some shaved turkey wrapped in a piece of low fat provolone cheese (I would eat 2 of these) and for dinner I may have Wendy's small chili or 3/4 cup of cottage cheese or a baked chicken breast with veggies. according to my nutritionist I should only eat 1 oz of protein at each meal or there abouts. Am I doing this wrong? Maybe that is why I'm at so slow at losing. But I am losing hair like crazy. Someone that has been at this a lot longer than me please chime in!!!